The European building stock consumes approximately 40% of primary energy and it is responsible for 36% of the EU greenhouse emissions. A significant reduction of building energy demand is a requisite to meet Europe’s GHG emissions reduction targets.

This peer review paper presents a new mathematical approach to the diffusion of energy-efficient technologies using the diffusion of natural processes as an analogy. This approach is applied to the diffusion of the electric arc furnace in Japan. The main advantage offered by the new approach is the incorporation of an average effect of barriers to, and support measures for, innovation. This approach also incorporates some of the parameters influencing the cost-effectiveness of the investment in the new technology as the main driver for adopting the innovation.

Based on the priority currently given by the European Union to the energy efficiency topic through its Energy Union Package, this feasibility study has focused on the role of location data in support of energy efficiency policies, taking into account the requirements of INSPIRE, EPBD and EED Directives, as well as the CoM initiative. The EU Member States are already due to implement such Directives according to different roadmaps, but there are benefits to be gained from a coherent and consistent approach.

Cities play a crucial role in mitigating the effects of climate change. Urban energy consumption generates about three quarters of global carbon emissions (IPCC 2014).

The main objective of this workshop was to share experience in data collection and methodologies to support energy efficiency policies and scope a possible pilot. The aim of a pilot project is to establish a harmonised approach supporting European Directives on Energy Efficiency (EED), Energy Performance of Buildings (EPBD) and the Covenant of Mayors (CoM) initiative using INSPIRE as a ‘location’ framework facilitating a harmonized exchange of data.

The European building stock consumes approximately 40% of primary energy and it is responsible for 36% of the EU greenhouse emissions. A significant reduction of building energy demand is a requisite to meet Europe’s GHG emissions reduction targets. The Article 4 of the Energy Efficiency Directive requires Member States "to establish a long-term strategy beyond 2020 for mobilising investment in the renovation of residential and commercial buildings with a view to improving the energy performance of the building stock.