UNECE Offers First Energy Efficiency Workshop

The United Nations Economic Commission of Europe (UNECE) has announced it will provide the first workshop on energy efficiency in the housing sector on April 21 and 22 in Sofia, Switzerland. The workshop is aimed at talks that would look to put in place mechanisms to decrease energy consumption that result in carbon emissions in buildings.

Some estimate that housing could consume 90% of all energy consumption in society, particularly in low-income countries. Direct emissions are expected to grow by about 70% between 2000 and 2050 while the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has stated that there is a global potential to cost-effectively reduce about 29% of the projected baseline emissions by 2020 in the residential and commercial sectors.

The first UNECE Workshop on energy efficiency in housing will discuss specific challenges and opportunities for the UNECE region. It hopes to provide member states with policy guidance and suggestions on how to increase energy efficiency in the housing industry. Also covered will be a review of economic, social, and environmental impacts. Attendees will include national and regional government representatives, business practitioners, and members of academia.

For more information, please visit https://www.ee-housing.com or contact Paola Deda, secretary to the committee on housing and land management, at paola.deda@unece.org or +41 22 917 2553