The Architects Council of Europe (ACE) is an organisation that is based in Brussels and whose Membership consists of the professional representative and regulatory bodies of all twenty-five European Union (EU) Member States, all Accession States, Switzerland and Norway. As such it is an organisation that represents, through its Member Organisations, the interests of about 450,000 Architects in Europe. Its principal function is to monitor and seek to influence developments at EU level highlighting those areas of EU Policy that have a direct impact on architectural practice, policy and the quality of the built environment.

ACE works steadily to ensure that EU legislation that affects the quality of the built environment and any transposition of such legislation into national law sets out adequate procedures for the provision of architectural services, that guarantee quality, sustainability and comfort for end-users and that they are given at least as much weight as economic considerations.

In keeping with its general aims, the ACE is persuaded of the added value that the certification of the energy performance of buildings can bring to society at large. It is also convinced that the architectural profession, with its ability to devise integrated solutions to problems that arise in the built environment, is well placed to promote a higher awareness of the need to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings. Its involvement in the Towards Class “A” Project is a concrete manifestation of this conviction.

Furthermore, the extensive network of contacts that the ACE has at both European and National levels places it in a position whereby it can ensure that a wide dissemination of the results of the Towards Class “A” Project will be possible with particular emphasis on decision makers and those who specify the materials and techniques used in building construction.

Contact: Alain Sagne
www.ace-cae.org