Providing comfortable living and working environments
Putting good levels of insulation in our roofs, walls and floors makes it easier to keep our buildings at a comfortable temperature all year round. It does this by forming a barrier which stops heat or cold transferring through the fabric of the building, bringing us better control of the temperature inside, whatever the weather is doing outside.
Reducing energy bills
Not only does this increase the level of comfort for people living and working in the buildings, it also means lower energy bills as less energy is needed to run heating or air conditioning systems.
Lowering energy bills is crucial for the more vulnerable members of society – the elderly and those on low incomes – helping to combat fuel poverty and increase health.
Creating local jobs
Insulation is a growth industry: buildings are being built to ever higher energy efficient standards in order to combat global warming, and existing buildings must be upgraded if we are to meet the tough targets set to cut CO2 emissions by 2050. Realising the cost-effective energy savings potential of Europe’s buildings will create or secure up to 2 million new jobs in the construction industry by 20201. Employment will be created at a local level, mainly in SMEs involved in the renovation and maintenance of buildings and, very importantly, these jobs cannot be relocated outside the region.
1 Communication from the Commission: Energy Efficiency Plan 2011, COM(2011) 109 final (March 2011)