European ETICS Forum 2017 with record participation
The European Association for ETICS (EAE) has held its 4th European ETICS (External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems) Forum in the Polin Museum in Warsaw.
EAE President Ruud Van Eersel (Belgium) and Dr Jacek Michalak, President of the co-organising Polish member association Stowarzyszenie na Rzecz Systemow Ocieplen (SSO), welcomed roughly 270 participants from 24 countries, and speakers from 11 countries to the Polish capitol.
Energy efficient buildings are key
In her key note speech “Energy efficient buildings are key to shaping our future – Is industry ready to tackle the challenges?” Paula Brandmeyer from Environmental Action Germany (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) demonstrated the necessity to reduce GHG emissions. In the Paris Agreement, all nations committed to aim to limit the global warming to 1.5°C until 2050. This requires a 95% reduction of GHG emissions in all sectors. In the “Clean Energy for all Europeans” package the European Commission proposed intermediate goals for 2030: 40% reduction of GHG emissions, 27% share of renewable energies, and 30% improvements in energy efficiency (compared to 1990).
Efforts have to be increased
Paula Brandmeyer pointed out, that 40% of EU´s energy demand is consumed in buildings, and that buildings are responsible for 36% of GHG emissions in the EU. Therefore, improving the energy efficiency of Europe’s aging building stock offers a huge leverage to achieving these ambitious goals. However, the efforts have to be increased: instead of an annual renovation rate of about 1%, a rate of 3% is required. This would not only support Europe’s ecological objectives, but at the same time effectively help to reduce the risk to fall for energy poverty, and to suffer from sicknesses linked to poorly insulated buildings.
Responsibility for future generations
The following speakers replied to her challenging question. It became clear, that the ETICS industry is aware of its responsibility for future generations. They demonstrated, that industry has already delivered some result. And it takes strong efforts to provide solutions towards a truly sustainable and circular economy in the future.
