In 1998, 20 of Europe’s leading companies involved with the manufacture, distribution and installation of a variety of energy saving goods and services joined forces as the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (EuroACE).

This initiative followed an invitation from the former European Commission’s deputy director general of Environment to attend a meeting in Brussels where companies were informed about the importance of reducing energy consumption in buildings - responsible for over 40% of Europe’s greenhouse gas emissions.

The challenge was set: why don’t you work together to ensure this happens?

Since that time, EuroACE has been in continuous dialogue with those in the European Union charged with developing programmes, both to assess and realise this potential. EuroACE has commissioned several substantial research documents, intended to facilitate effective policy making in this area.

The EuroACE member companies are involved with the manufacture, distribution and installation of a variety of energy saving goods and services. They together employ 438,000 people and have a turnover of 70 billion euro.

EuroACE’s mission is to work together with the European institutions to help Europe move towards a more sustainable pattern of energy use in buildings, and therefore reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, one of the principal climate change gases.

As a partner in the Towards Class A project, EuroACE is involved in determining what makes municipal buildings participating in the Display campaign ‘Shining Examples’ for others to follow. EuroACE is working with municipalities, building on its members’ European networks, to produce Shining Example case studies for promotion via the Display website. Representatives from EuroACE’s membership will also form part of the jury which will decide on the recipients of Towards Class A award for the best communication strategy.

Links:
EuroACE website: www.euroace.org
EuroACE’s objectives for 2005/6: www.euroace.org/objectives.htm