Building Research Notes [ Building Research Note ]

International Council for Building Research, Studies and Documentation | ICB [Abbr.]

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Institute for Research in Construction [ IRC | Division of Building Research ]

Canadian Construction Research Board [ CCRB | Canadian Committee on Building Research ]

Notes that up to now the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive and the 2010 Buildings Directive remain to be fully implemented by the Member States; notes that the deadline for transposition of the EED was only on 5 June 2014; considers that cutting costs and reducing energy consumption are in citizens’ and businesses’ own interest; highlights the importance of a strong regulatory framework consisting of targets and measures to incentivise and enable investment in energy efficiency and low energy consumption and costs, while supporting competitiveness and sustainability; adds that some Member States are not making appropriate use of the EU support available to promote the energy ...[+++]efficiency of residential buildings; notes the significant potential for creating quality employment offered by the full implementation of the energy efficiency measures, taking into account that some 900 000 jobs are linked to the supply of energy-efficient goods and services (according to 2010 data).

Points out that the Energy Efficiency Directive not only supports energy efficiency but also contains energy-saving elements through the binding energy-saving obligation per year in article 7; stresses the importance of a 2030 energy efficiency target in line with the climate targets agreed at COP 21 in order to achieve our climate goals and reduce our dependency on third countries; notes that buildings account for 40 % of energy use in the EU and that 50 % of this is used for heating and cooling purposes; stresses that improved energy efficiency in buildings is therefore of paramount importance in terms of reducing CO emissions, impr ...[+++]oving energy security, reducing energy poverty and boosting our economy; urges the Member States to initiate major investments in order to improve energy efficiency drawing on EU funding, since this would not only lead to lower energy bills but would also create large numbers of jobs and help reach the reindustrialisation goals.

84. Takes note that repairing the ceiling support frame in Parliament’s Brussels Chamber will involve costs just above EUR 2 million, a figure below the EUR 3 million estimated and that due to the age of the building, no legal proceedings could subsequently be taken; acknowledges that the regular on-going inspection and preventive maintenance policy for Parliament’s buildings introduced in 2012 detected the structural defects in the wooden ceiling beams, thus preventing a major disaster, potentially including the loss of life and huge damage to the build ...[+++]ing in question; takes note that it was possible to relocate the displaced services to Parliament’s other buildings, with zone A of the Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) being temporarily closed and that the Chamber is available for use again since the beginning of April 2014;

83. Takes note that repairing the ceiling support frame in Parliament’s Brussels Chamber will involve costs just above EUR 2 million, a figure below the EUR 3 million estimated and that due to the age of the building, no legal proceedings could subsequently be taken; acknowledges that the regular on-going inspection and preventive maintenance policy for Parliament’s buildings introduced in 2012 detected the structural defects in the wooden ceiling beams, thus preventing a major disaster, potentially including the loss of life and huge damage to the build ...[+++]ing in question; takes note that it was possible to relocate the displaced services to Parliament’s other buildings, with zone A of the Paul-Henri Spaak (PHS) being temporarily closed and that the Chamber is available for use again since the beginning of April 2014;