Looking at the potential for energy efficiency in Europe, there is one area that stands out in particular: the building stock.
Today, buildings account for 40 percent of the total energy consumption in the EU and 36 percent of the greenhouse gases can be linked to the energy consumption in buildings.
In other words, there is a huge potential for a green transition of the building stock through energy efficient solutions.
The energy sector shall play a key role in the green transition and climate friendly construction and energy renovations are an important part of this. That is why FH proposes a number of initiatives for energy renovation, climate-friendly new constructions and fewer emissions from building sites
A win-win situation
Energy efficiency improvements are not only the cheapest tool for the green transition. It is actually a really good business too.
“The energy sector shall play a key role in the green transition and climate friendly construction and energy renovations are an important part of this. That is why FH proposes a number of initiatives for energy renovation, climate-friendly new constructions and fewer emissions from building sites”, says Bente Sorgenfrey, Vice President of Danish Trade Union Confederation.
Denmark has a long tradition of inventing energy-saving solutions and a large number of Danish workplaces are tied up in the production and installation of for example double-glazed windows, heat pumps and thermostats.
Workers play essential role
Workers play an essential role in the green transition as they are the ones who have the relevant know-how. Workers implement the specific climate initiatives and find further potentials, they are the ones bringing the green ambitions to life, says Bente Sorgenfrey, Vice President of Danish Trade Union Confederation.
As can be seen from the figure, the export of energy technology has been increasing, and today, it constitutes a significant share of the total Danish commodity exports.
High ambitions for energy efficiency can ensure higher employment in the industries that produce and install energy-efficient solutions and it will also save the public budgets for high energy bills.