Policies and Initiatives to Achieve EU’s Energy Efficiency and Environmental Goals

This paper presents the European Cool Roofs Council (ECRC), an International non-profit organization that aims to promote the technology of cool roofs in Europe. Cool roofs is an energy efficient, financially viable and sustainable solution for reducing building energy consumption for cooling and achieving better thermal comfort conditions. City wide applications of cool roofs contribute to the mitigation of the heat island effect and at global scale the adoption of high albedo roofs and pavements could potentially contribute to the mitigation of global warming. The main aim of the ECRC is to develop scientific knowledge and research in relation to cool roof technology and to promote the use of cool roof products in Europe, including developing a product rating program. Through its actions, the ECRC will try to a) support policy development by transferring experience and improving understanding of the potential contributions by cool roofs to heating and cooling consumption in the EU b)remove market barriers c)change the behavior of decision-makers and stakeholders to improve acceptability of the cool roofs and d)disseminate and promote the development of innovative legislation, codes, permits and standards. The ECRC brings together all the relevant actors in the field, i.e. industry, research institutes, market actors, suppliers, and distributors, roofing contractors, consultants, as well as the end users. The foundation of the European Cool Roofs Council is an initiative that was undertaken in the framework of an EU supported project called Cool Roofs. An overview of the scientific, market and policy status of cool roofs technology in Europe will be presented in this paper. The specific objectives, participants and achievements of the ECRC will be detailed and reference will be given to other cool roofs related policies and initiatives aiming to achieve EU’s energy efficiency and environmental goals