Communication: An EU strategy on heating and cooling

Heating and cooling consume half of the EU's energy and much of it is wasted. Developing a strategy to make heating and cooling more efficient and sustainable is a priority for the Energy Union. It should help to reduce energy imports and dependency, to cut costs for households and businesses, and to deliver the EU's greenhouse gas emission reduction goal and meet its commitment under the climate agreement reached at the COP21 climate conference in Paris.

Although the heating and cooling sector is moving to clean low carbon energy, 75% of the fuel it uses still comes from fossil fuels (nearly half from gas). While this strategy will contribute to reducing import dependency, security of supply remains a priority, especially in Member States that rely on a single supplier.

This strategy provides a framework for integrating efficient heating and cooling into EU energy policies by focusing action on stopping the energy leakage from buildings, maximising the efficiency and sustainability of heating and cooling systems, supporting efficiency in industry and reaping the benefits of integrating heating and cooling into the electricity system. It is accompanied by a Staff Working Document giving an overview of this complex sector. The solutions will be examined in the ongoing reviews of legislation under the Energy Union.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Towards Energy Union: The Commission presents sustainable energy security package http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-towards-energy-union-the-commission-presents-sustainable-energy-security-package/

EUR-Lex: SWD(2016)24: Review of available information http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2016:024:FIN

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