Workshop on Provision of Highly Efficient Heating and Cooling Solutions for Residential Buildings

This is the first of two regional workshops (this one with focus on Southern European countries:  France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, etc.) on how directed work towards consumers can contribute to efficient heating and cooling solutions (products, installer services, other energy services, self-production) building renovation advice; evaluation and recommendations of energy professionals (auditors, service providers, ESCOs, etc.) in follow up of the Heating and Cooling Strategy (COM(2016)51). The workshops will focus on the following topics:

• Energy efficiency solutions with focus on heating and cooling (e.g. heat pumps, solar thermal, etc.), and building renovation (including also information on some policy tools such as national/regional Buildings Codes (part of the national implementation of the EPC) and Energy Performance Certificates).
• Financing options for energy efficiency improvements in residential buildings.
• Local available providers of energy efficiency solutions such as utilities, ESCOs, installers, manufacturers.
• consumer rights vis-à-vis energy efficiency services (provided by utilities, ESCOs, installers) in particular on claims future energy savings resulting by installation of EE solutions or guarantees for equipment installed or contract with utilities for packages including energy and equipment or on split incentives (landlord-tenant conflicts for investment in EE solutions).
• Tools, media and best way to provide the information (social media, website, personal advice, feedback and billing, energy audits, etc.)

The workshop will also include presentations on improving the capabilities of existing national contact points for energy with respect to energy efficiency solution, in particular with respect to consumer financing and financial support schemes in the concerned Member States, and will also exchange best practices for contact points. The workshops will include elements on consumer rights vis-s-vis the provision of energy services.