This guide will dive into how these key principles of the EU Green Deal are leading to a tangible reduction in your household energy expenditure, making your home more comfortable and cost-efficient.
The European Commission introduced the historic EU Green Deal in December 2019 with the ultimate goal of achieving climate neutrality for the EU by 2050. This entails reaching net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by the deadline year. Climate change is only one aspect of this all-encompassing growth strategy, which aims to make the EU a competitive, resource-efficient and technological economy.
Funded by the EU’s seven-year budget and a third of a €1.8 trillion investment from the NextGenerationEU Recovery Plan, this deal has had a lot of financial backing. Enhancing the EU’s carbon footprint is a long-term effort that has received strong support. As a result, more people are being persuaded to upgrade their homes in an effort to lower their carbon footprint and cost of living at the same time.
This guide will delve further into the EU Green Deal principles and how it leads to a reduction in household energy expenditure. Continue reading to find out more.
Why the EU Green Deal is important
There’s no denying that a healthy planet will lead to an improved future for the whole of Europe, especially since average global temperatures have impacted the climate patterns so much in the continent. With more frequent and stronger extreme weather events too, it has resulted in devastating consequences on lives and the economy. This has caused a big change to happen across Europe. Norway, Austria, Finland, Iceland and Sweden are considered the greenest countries in Europe with other counties taking inspiration from these in recent years.
The European Green Deal’s vision is to make the EU the first climate-neutral area in the world by 2050, to cut pollution and restore a healthy balance in nature and ecosystems. This will push for cleaner, more sustainable industries which thrive in the EU and global markets, improving the overall economy at the same time.
How it leads to reduced household energy expenditure
Renewable energy sources
Adopting renewable energy sources in your home is an ever-growing way to reduce your carbon footprint, lower your energy expenditure and increase your energy independence. Solar panels capture sunlight and convert it directly into your power sources. An inverter then converts this to AC power for use in your home. Excess electricity can be stored in a battery or exported to the national grid. This generates clean energy that can help with achieving net zero by 2025, especially if they grow in popularity throughout Europe.
Zero-emission buildings
All new residential buildings in the EU must be zero-emission from 2030 onwards, with public buildings having an earlier deadline of 2028. This is all done with the hopes of influencing more people to get their homes updated with zero-emission materials and technologies before this deadline to fit in with this new green Europe focus. The overall aim is to improve the carbon footprint of construction companies who will be constructing these residential buildings.
Ecosystem and biodiversity at home
Harnessing nature’s efficiencies for climate control and resource management results in reduced household energy expenditure, which coincides with the EU Green Deal. Strategically selecting native trees and shrubs in the home’s garden to act as living infrastructure will offer cooling shade in summer, drastically cutting air conditioning use, while their bare branches allow warming sunlight through in winter. Integrating features like green roofs or living walls provides exceptional insulation, dampening heat transfer through the building envelope year-round.
Shift to green technologies
The push to phase out fossil fuels and deploy renewables means a strong incentive to install heat pumps, solar panels and other sustainable heating/cooling solutions. This reflects a fundamental pivot in EU policy, driven by the urgency of climate change and the strategic imperative of energy independence, particularly in light of geopolitical events. C.H.R.I.S technology by CI Group can be implemented into home conservatories to keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, which will reduce household energy expenditure.
The Energy Efficiency Directive (EED)
The EED is a crucial piece of EU legislation that plays a significant, though often indirect, role in driving energy efficiency improvements in homes. While the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD) directly addresses building standards and renovations, the EED sets the overarching energy efficiency targets for the EU and mandates measures across various sectors, including buildings, to achieve those targets. The latest revision of it sets a legally binding EU-wide target to reduce final energy consumption by at least 11.7% by 2030 compared to 2020 projections.
Conclusion
Several home upgrades can be undertaken to help Europe achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, ranging from increasing the energy efficiency of our homes and utilising nature with green roofs. These adjustments are beneficial not only for the environment but also for your wallet, as you will save money. In the end, you’ll have a more comfortable house, less energy costs and the knowledge that you’re contributing to a more eco-friendly future. The goal is to make sustainable living easy and advantageous for all.