Instruments to improve energy efficiency of buildings and their contribution to promote urban and regional sustainability

According the EU directive on energy efficiency of buildings (Directive 2002/91/EC) the Member States needed to implement four different requirements in order to improve the energy performance of buildings: (1) a general framework for a methodology of calculation of the integrated performance of buildings, (2) setting of minimum standards in new and existing buildings, (3) energy certification of buildings, (4) inspection and assessment of heating and cooling installations. Households and the tertiary sector were identified as the biggest energy users within the European Union (40% of the energy demand within the European Union) with an energy savings potential of 22% until 2010. The member states had three years (2003-2006) to build up relevant measures and systems to implement these requirements. The overall goal is to meet the commitments of the Kyoto Protocol. Regarding the energy efficiency of buildings the link between climate change policy and sustainable development policy is obvious and needs to be taken into account. Hence, climate change strategies need to be harmonized with sustainable development policies. Therefore it seems interesting to raise the question whether new climate change policy instruments to improve energy efficiency in buildings promote urban and regional sustainability. The paper focuses on Austria and tries to assess the recently implemented energy performance certificate of buildings (“Energieausweis”). The analysis is based on two different investigations which will give a first preliminary overview of this recently implemented instrument.