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E.V.V.E. Press Release

E.V.V.E. elects new board of directors

Nicolai Kuß is the new president / Prof. Dr. Christoph Schmucker elected as vice-president

Bonn, 8 November 2022.

Nicolai Kuß is the new president of E.V.V.E. The Chief Sales Officer (CSO) of Techem GmbH was unanimously elected as the new president of E.V.V.E. at the E.V.V.E. general meeting. He succeeds Thomas Zinnöcker, who successfully led the association for three terms of office.

Prof. Dr. Christoph Schmucker, managing partner of BRUNATA-METRONA GmbH & Co. KG, was elected as vice-president.

Oliver Geer (BRUNATA-METRONA GmbH, Germany), DI DDr. Helmut Gradischnik (Meßtechnik Ges.m.b.H. & CoKG, Austria), Dr. Hagen Lessing (ista SE, Germany) and Ralf Moysig (Brunata A/S, Denmark) were confirmed in their offices as further members of the board.

Nicolai Kuß on his election: “I would like to thank the management of E.V.V.E., Mr. Christian Sperber and Mr. Udo Wasser, for the successful work and the members for the trust they have placed in me. I am looking forward to mastering the modernisation of the association and the thematic challenges together. I see the establishment of a Brussels office and the modernisation of the association’s digital presence as important milestones on this path.”

Prof. Dr. Christoph Schmucker adds: “Together we can achieve a lot in E.V.V.E. in the future. The member companies make an important contribution to energy saving by creating transparency about heating energy consumption. Together, we can save CO₂ in Europe and mitigate the consequences of the energy crisis. This is one of the reasons why the association is a valued discussion partner in numerous bodies in Brussels.”

About E.V.V.E.
The European Association for Energy Cost Association (E.V.V.E.) based in Bonn, Germany, is an independent and pan-European policy-based interest group whose activities are focused on the promotion of energy and water saving systems for buildings. Its members include major companies that develop, manufacture and provide the service of consumption-based energy and water cost billing systems within the European Union and beyond. More information at: www.evve.com

Contact
E.V.V.E. – European Association for Energy Cost Allocation
Christian Sperber / Udo Wasser
Heilsbachstraße 24
53123 Bonn
Germany
Phone: +49 (0)228 35 14 96
E-Mail: info@evve.com
www.evve.com

E.V.V.E. Press Release

Association warns: EU must strengthen the transposition of Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) in Member States to avoid climate change setbacks

Brussels, 6th November 2018.

“Energy efficiency is one of the most important drivers of energy transition in buildings. But if the laws from Brussels do not arrive in the capitals, climate protection and consumers will of course benefit little”, says Christian Sperber, Director General of the E.V.V.E. This impression was also confirmed at the one-day congress on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the E.V.V.E. in Brussels on 6 November. Niels Ladefoged, speaker of the European Commission, referred to the early days of the SAVE programme in the 1990s and explained the ambitions of the European Commission, which were put on paper in the Clean Energy Package. Dr. Robert Gorzycki, President of RSM URSUS, presented in the afternoon how transparent consumption values affect the consumption of heat energy and how this can be better used. Thomas Zinnöcker, President of E.V.V.E., praised the measures taken by European legislators. Over the past 20 years, a sensible framework for the promotion of energy efficiency measures has been created and the decisive importance of the consumer has been clearly recognised. In addition, however, Mr Zinnöcker sees a need for improvement in the transposition of the directive in the Member States: “The fact that even years after the entry into force of a European act, some countries have not yet transposed it into national law is a bad signal for the consumer and the economy. Reliability and predictability are thereby lost. But the biggest loser is the climate.” Mr Zinnöcker therefore wishes the EU Commission to do more to ensure that the EED will be implemented quickly and correctly.

Studies overview on effects of consumption based billing

Bonn, 22 August 2016. Experiences with consumption-based energy cost allocation published in several studies allow to extrapolate average energy consumption savings of 20% as a result. You may find an overview on these studies here.

Transparency on energy consumption is a crucial step to put energy efficiency first

E.V.V.E. joins the Coalition for Energy Savings

Brussels, 25 July 2016 – E.V.V.E., the European Association for the Consumption-based Billing of Energy Costs, has joined the Coalition for Energy Savings and its call for putting energy efficiency first in EU economic and energy policies.

E.V.V.E. is an independent, European-wide, politically active interest group whose activities aim at promoting systems to save energy and water in buildings. Amongst its members are leading companies developing and producing systems for heat, cold and water cost allocation, and carrying out consumption-based billing of energy and water costs within the European Union and beyond.

“We are joining forces with The Coalition for Energy Savings, a unique alliance of industry, local authorities, trade unions, consumers and NGOs to help foster ambitious energy savings policies”, said Christian Sperber, Director General of E.V.V.E. “E.V.V.E. believes that transparency, including information on actual energy consumption, is one of the key conditions to move to an energy system which puts energy efficiency first”, added E.V.V.E.’s Managing Director Udo Wasser.

“We welcome E.V.V.E. joining our quest to put energy efficiency first in all decision-making to redress the historic bias that favours increasing energy supply over saving energy”, said Stefan Scheuer, Secretary General of the Coalition for Energy Savings. “Decision-makers in the energy system, including consumers, should be empowered to make informed choices and incentivized to invest in saving energy”.

As a multi-stakeholder Coalition, uniting 31 European business, civil society, consumer, professional, trade union and local government organisations, the Coalition for Energy Savings calls on the European Commission to put energy efficiency first in its upcoming climate and energy plans.

Frances Bean | +32 2 235 20 13 | secretariat[at]energycoalition.eu
Christian Sperber | +49 228 351496 | info[at]evve.com

E.V.V.E ENERGIEINFO April 2013

Largest study in Europe into buildings‘ heating consumption published

1. The turnaround in energy policy will be decided in the nation‘s living rooms
2. Effects of consumption-basedbilling with reference to buildings‘ energy-saving qualities – Abstract of the Felsmann Study

(1) The turnaround in energy policy will be decided in the nation‘s living rooms

by Oliver Mertens

Felsmann presented the largest German study so far on “the effects of billing in reference to buildings‘ energy-saving qualities”. The professor for building energy technology and heat supply lectures at the Institute of Power Engineering at the Technical University of Dresden. The Institute enjoys a very good reputation and often carries out work for the German government. The Arbeitsgemeinschaft Heiz- und Wasserkostenverteilung e.V. (Cooperative for Heat and Water Costs Distribution) provided Felsmann with anonymised measured data from 3.3 million homes. There are a total of 18 million homes in multi-occupancy buildings in Germany.

Lowest CO2 abatement costs

The study confirms the large potential to reduce CO2 emissions via heating billing. Since billing was made mandatory in 1981, approximately 350 million tonnes of CO2 have been saved. Most energy efficiency measures taken to abate CO2 result in costs. Consumption-based billing, on the other hand, results in savings of almost 200 euros per tonne of CO2 abated. “No other remotely comparable measure (such as additional insulation) has such low abatement costs as consumption-based billing,” says Felsmann. According to his calculations, heating bills are more effective than energy-saving bulbs and are even comparable with modernisation of all unmodernised single-family or two-family buildings.

Users in older buildings much more energy-conscious

The analysis shows that the measured room temperature in two thirds of all homes surveyed in multi-occupancy houses is considerably lower than the theoretical norm of 20 °C. Half of all values recorded were even under 19 °C. Users in older buildings are therefore much more energy-conscious than previously thought, and their behaviour also has a greater influence on overall consumption than we used to assume. The measured energy consumption of older buildings is, on average, much less than the requirements calculated in accordance with the EnEV. This means that the potential savings of energy-related measures applied to building shells and appliance technology have been overestimated.

The Felsmann study proves that average room temperatures increase significantly as the building‘s energy-saving quality increases. Homes that were built between 1958 and 1967 have, on average, a room temperature of 18.1°C. Buildings from between 1978 and 1995 are kept at only marginally higher temperatures. Buildings built between 1996 and 2001, however, are kept considerably warmer at 19.4°C. Buildings built to the EnEV 2002 standard are kept warmer again, at about 20°C. In buildings built according to the current EnEV, room temperatures are higher yet again, on average.

Energy consumption for hot water underestimated

Another result of the study is the fact that the condition of the building has no effect on the energy requirements for heating water. Its relative share of the overall heat consumption increases, however, as the building‘s energy-saving qualities improve. For new buildings, this share is above 30 %. Felsmann used the comprehensive data to calculate an average energy consumption of 26 kilowatt-hours per square metre and year (kWh/(m2 a)) for water heating. This consumption figure is more than double the energy requirement of 12.5 kWh/(m2 a) assumed in DIN V 18599 Part 10. In an older building built before 1977, approximately 17 % of the heating consumption is due to water heating. In buildings built in accordance with EnEV 2002, it is as much as 28 %. In individual cases, the share of consumption due to water heating can rise to 50 %. For this reason, Felsmann recommends that consumption-based heating and hot water cost distribution be extended to new buildings and energy-optimised older buildings in order to encourage users to save energy.

Energy certificate significantly superior

Because the calculation basis (DIN V 18599) uses different underlying assumptions, the calculated energy consumption is not reached in new buildings. It turned out, however, that potential savings in older buildings could only be forecast with any confidence if the actual consumption situation was investigated for each individual case. The effects of the energy-related regulations of the EnEV were being overestimated for new buildings as well as older ones. The scientist claims that user behaviour is the main reason for this. In new buildings with low energy requirements, in particular, users consume more heat than calculated due to their heating and ventilation habits.

Conclusion

User behaviour is a decisive factor. Only if users know how much energy they consume can they rethink their energy-usage habits. And only if they rethink their habits will they change their behaviour. According to Felsmann, this may result in rooms being heated less or only partially, in more requirements-driven ventilation and in the use of less hot water.

(2) Effects of consumption-basedbilling with reference to buildings‘ energy-saving qualities – Abstract of the Felsmann Study

Clemens Felsmann, Juliane Schmidt

The energy consumption of residential buildings is largely determined by their energy requirements for space heating and domestic hot water. With regard to quantifying possible energy-saving effects, the main focus lies on the impact of user behaviour on the energy consumption in addition to the building‘s physical attributes (energy demand) and the operating conditions of appliances (energy efficiency). Room heating requirements, for example, are largely determined by the building‘s design and can – assuming standard usage patterns and weather conditions – be worked out with established calculation methods (e.g. DIN V 18599). However, actual building operation often leads to wide variations in consumption figures, largely due to user behaviour. Surveys have also shown that buildings with the same design can show wide differences in their energy consumption if they have similar uses but are operated differently. Users thus have a strong and verifiable effect on consumption both in space heating and domestic hot water generation.

Experience has shown that user-specific heating cost distribution is a very effective measure to influence user behaviour and to reduce heating consumption and CO2 emissions.

Increasing energy-saving qualities of building shells and appliance technology makes this effect even stronger. Experience has shown that user-specific heating cost distribution is a very effective measure to influence user behaviour and to reduce heating consumption and CO2 emissions. User behaviour can be influenced largely by consumption-dependent billing of heating costs and can be seen, for example, in reduced or needs- driven heating (lower room temperatures or heating of only parts of the home), in changes to ventilation and in reduced hot water usage. One decisive factor is whether and to what extent a user can be encouraged to change his or her operating and usage habits – i.e. to use energy in a more conscious way – through consumption- based heating bills. As part of the current investigations, user behaviour was extrapolated from real energy consumption figures. The data was also used to analyse the effects of this user behaviour on the energy consumption in buildings whose energy-saving design attributes were known.

Anonymised energy consumption data recorded by different metering service providers from over 320,000 buildings with more than 3.3 million flats or approximately 283 million square metres of living space.

To this end, anonymised energy consumption data recorded by different metering service providers from over 320,000 buildings with more than 3.3 million flats or approximately 283 million square metres of living space. This quantity of data material has so far never been equalled in Germany. The data collected were evaluated using energy performance certificates and processed for further use. This was done separately according to property size or number of units and year of construction or energy-saving quality of the building shell. Buildings were also divided into those heated with district heating and those heated with a boiler.

The investigation method chosen for a systematic investigation of the connection between consumptionbased billing and energy-saving building qualities as well as a possible extrapolation of the results was a building simulation. Building models were created using a simulation programme for thermal building and appliance simulation. A similar distinction was made according to property size and building age class when creating the models. Four different building sizes were created, each with five different energy standards. The models were validated by comparison with the consumption data collected. They were then used to map user behaviour in behaviour with reference to the energy-saving qualities of a building‘s shell.

The simulations allow us to conclude that improved building heat insulation and the resulting drop in energy requirements make users tend more towards waste. This can be seen in the fact that, in energy-saving buildings with several residential units, even small deviations in the behaviour of individual users (e.g. choosing higher room temperatures) has a significant influence on consumption spread. From this we can conclude that consumption-based billing for heating will continue to play an important role in the future, not just in ensuring that billing is fair, but also in realising the energy-saving potential that was envisaged by constructing energy-saving buildings. The relatively low investment costs of setting up consumption-based billing are also helpful.

Experiences with consumption-based heating cost distribution published in several studies allow us to extrapolate average energy consumption savings of 20% as a result of the introduction and implementation of Germany‘s Heating Cost Ordinance. This study shows that even higher savings can be achieved, even in new buildings. On this basis, it has been calculated that the abated CO2 emissions since the introduction of the Heating Cost Ordinance in 1981 until 2012 were up to 348 million tons of CO2. The savings generated by consumption-based billing could abate an additional 95 million tons of CO2 by 2020. The CO2 abatement costs of consumption-based billing, for example, were 195 EUR / t of CO2 in 2010. They thus represent financial yields and can be considered extremely beneficial when compared with other energy-saving measures in the property sector.

E.V.V.E ENERGIEINFO April 2013
DE – Größte Studie in Europa zum Heizwärmeverbrauch in Gebäuden veröffentlicht
DK – Største europæiske undersøgelse af varmeforbruget i bygninger er offentliggjort
EN – Largest study in Europe into buildings‘ heating consumption published
ES – El estudio más amplio en Europa sobre el consumo de energía calorífi ca en edifi cios
FR – La plus grande étude en Europe consacrée à la consommation de chauffage dans les bâtiments résidentiels vient d’être publiée
IT – Pubblicato il più grande studio in Europa sul consumo di riscaldamento negli edifi ci
NL – Het grootste onderzoek in Europa naar het warmtegebruik in gebouwen is gepubliceerd
PL – Największe europejskie opracowanie z zakresu zużycia ciepła na ogrzewanie budynków
SE – Europas största studie om värmeanvändning i fastigheter

E.V.V.E. delegation meets EU Energy Commissioner G. Oettinger

During a meeting with E.V.V.E. representatives Commissioner Günther Oettinger demonstrated how extremely well-informed he is about the potential of the business sector to contribute at low cost to the aim of reducing CO2 emissions.

Bonn, 12 November 2012. At the meeting Mr. Oettinger particularly highlighted that service companies could make a significant contribution to the transposition of the recently adopted Energy Efficiency Directive in those member states where so far the obligation to invoice energy costs according to real consumption does not exist. He believes that on the basis of existing technical solutions the equipment obligation can be transposed in a cost-effective manner. Moreover, the directive prescribes necessary minimum requirements and underpins the obligation of consumption-based billing.

Mr. Oettinger encouraged the business sector to support the transposition of directive requirements on energy cost allocation in a close dialogue with the EU Commission.

European Association for the Consumption-based Billing of Energy Costs (E.V.V.E.) has elected its new presidency

The president Walter Schmidt renews his terms of office / The transposition of the European Energy Efficiency Directive requires common commitment

Bonn, 23 October 2012. Walter Schmidt has been reelected as the president of the European Association for the Consumption-based Billing of Energy Costs (E.V.V.E.) for two more years. The CEO of the service company ista International GmbH based in Essen has been confirmed in office by a large majority at this year’s annual general meeting. Detlef Busch, manager of international business at Techem Energy Services GmbH, has been approved in his office as vice-president.

The following gentlemen have also been reappointed: Achim Dicke (ista Germany) and DDr. Helmut Gradischnik (Meßtechnik Ges.m.b.H. & CoKG, Austria). Newly elected members of the E.V.V.E. presidency are Keld Forchhammer (Brunata A/S, Denmark), Oliver Geer (Brunata Wärmemesser-Gesellschaft Schultheiss GmbH + Co., Germany), Marcus Lehmann (Minol Messtechnik W. Lehmann GmbH & Co. KG) and Dr. Christoph Schmucker (Brunata Wärmemesser GmbH & Co. KG, Germany).

Walter Schmidt on his confirmation in office: “I thank the members of the E.V.V.E. for this expression of confidence.“ With regard to the Energy Efficiency Directive recently adopted by the EU Council he adds: “With the adoption of the Energy Efficiency Directive, Europe has demonstrated that binding measures and objectives are the right path towards attaining climate protection targets. The consumption-based billing of heating and hot water costs can be a major contribution to this. Innovative and Europe-wide introduced registering devices such as hot meaters, water meters and heat cost allocators are available for the practical implementation. The E.V.V.E. offers his business competence in order to closely follow the implementation nationally. Common commitment at all levels is required from the EU Commission, from governments of the member states and from associations.”

Consumption-based billing becomes a Europe-wide standard

Adoption of the EU Directive on energy efficiency / E.V.V.E. welcomes the decision by the European Union

Bonn, 5 October 2012. On 4th October 2012 the Council of the European Union has adopted the Directive on energy efficiency. This decision has opened the way towards a Europe-wide introduction of compulsory energy saving measures and objectives. The transposition will play a substantial role in the reduction of CO2 emissions. “This is good news on the way towards higher energy efficiency and climate protection all over Europe” says Walter Schmidt, the president of the the European Association for Energy Cost Allocation (E.V.V.E.). “E.V.V.E. explicitly welcomes the adoption of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive, in particular the decision to lay a stronger emphasis on demand and to improve the integration of EU citizens in the future.”

The new directive shall be a decisive contribution to attaining the larger climate objective to reduce total energy consumption in the European Union by 20 per cent until 2020. Member states now have the opportunity to lay down the corresponding legal requirements until the middle of 2014. The focus is on the billing of heat / cold and hot water on the basis of real consumption at least once per annum, so that users can influence their own energy consumption and receive consumption information at shorter intervals (see Appendix VII).

Thanks to the new directive, the principle of consumption-based billing, which is successfully applied in countries such as Denmark, Germany or Austria, will be extended to a Europe-wide level. Until 31st December 2016 central heating and/or air-conditiong systems and hot water supply units in apartment buildings have to be equipped with the necessary measuring devices. In cases where heat / cold meters for the registering of consumption can not be installed due to technical barriers or cost-efficiency reasons, heat cost allocators must be used. Heat meters as well as heat cost allocators have been introduced all over Europe many years ago, and they comply with harmonized technical standards (CEN Standards).

Therefore, the comprehensive introduction of consumption-based billing in Europe will contribute significantly to the reduction of CO2 emissions. Experiences made so far have shown that thanks to this technique 15 to 25 per cent of energy can be saved.

Moreover, this tool offers a more equitable cost allocation method, as every user receives consumption-based individual invoices and therefore only pays for his actual energy use. The conclusion is that savings become definitely worthwile thanks to consumption-based billing.

E.V.V.E. will closely accompany the transposition period of the EU Energy Efficiency Directive and be a competent partner for governments of the member states.

The Association for Energy Cost Allocation (E.V.V.E.) elects new presidency

Walter Schmidt is the new president of the European trade association E.V.V.E. – joint commitment to achieve EU climate protection targets is essential

Bonn, 15 November 2010. Walter Schmidt is the new President of the Association of Energy Cost Allocation (E.V.V.E.). The CEO of ista International GmbH, the energy service provider based in Essen, was unanimously elected successor to Ben Wiegers of The Netherlands (Warmtemeterservice B.V.) at the annual general meeting. Schmidt will preside over the European trade association of service and billing providers for an initial two years. Detlef Busch, International Business Manager at Techem Energy Services GmbH, was re-elected Vice-President for the fifth time.

Other members of the Presidency, elected on 9 November 2010 in Barcelona, are:
Michael Buschmann (Brunata Wärmemesser-Ges. Schultheiss GmbH+Co., Germany), Bernard Chaize (Ecometering, France), Christian Fischer Trollo (Brunata A/S, Denmark), Achim Dicke (ista, Germany) und DDr. Helmut Gradischnik (Meßtechnik Ges.m.b.H. & CoKG, Austria).

Speaking in his capacity as new president of the Association, Walter Schmidt said: “I am very much looking forward to this job. The E.V.V.E. is the voice of this sector in Europe and as an association we intend to greatly strengthen our commitment at European level in the future”. In view of recently introduced European Commission climate targets, including a forecast of European-wide investment of a trillion Euros over the next ten years, he added: “We very much welcome the Commission’s commitment to increasing energy efficiency over the coming years as part of its energy strategy. Our sector has recently developed innovative, effective and relatively inexpensive solutions for savings in residential and business properties, which account for a massive 40 percent of total energy consumption in Europe. These measures can make a significant contribution to achieving target CO2 reductions. In future we need intelligent and professional monitoring and management of energy consumption in the building sector. Whether energy supplier, property management or tenant – without transparent details on energy consumption, there will be no informed basis for investment decisions, changing consumer behaviour or cost-effectiveness analysis of introduced measures”.

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