Recommendations to the new European Commission leadership from mechanical contractors, HVAC installers, plumbers & building services engineers in Europe
---------- Note on the relevance of our sector for EU’s climate change mitigation and industrial ambitions:
We make the implementation and achievements of climate and energy independence goals possible. We install and maintain high quality solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation and (hot) water distribution, which help make buildings in Europe sustainable and liveable. We offer non-relocatable green and digital jobs for the new economy.
Pipe nr. 1 – Foster digitalisation in the energy sector
Why is it important?
- Digitalisation helps our companies to be competitive, attractive for workers, bridge the skills gap for the energy transition and improve the comfort and wellbeing of citizens.
What are we doing and planning to do?
- Our companies are actively involved in the shaping and implementation of digital passports (in buildings). They use smart appliances, digital tools in building information modelling (BIM) and in remote maintenance. They help integrate building automation&control systems (BACs) and AI solutions.
Where can you help as policy-maker?
- We need a “European digitalisation fitness in the energy sector Act” that would review all the reporting duties for companies arising from the implementation of European energy laws. This will help our sector be more productive by reducing unnecessary costs.
- We need a European “right of access to data” for the operation of the digital activities carried out within our sector. This will ensure more tailored and less-costly climate-friendly solutions.
Pipe nr. 2 – Foster health and safety beyond efficiency in buildings
Why is it important?
- Citizens spend most of their lives in buildings. The COVID pandemic showed the importance of good indoor air quality. Healthy domestic water is also crucial as well as the safe operation of HVAC systems.
What are we doing and planning to do?
- Our companies are installing safe HVAC and water installations. The need to speed-up the energy transition and new environmental standards require policies to support safe and healthy solutions.
Where can you help as policy-maker?
- We need policies that give as much importance to the quality of “indoor air” as to ambient air.
- We need policies that provide the necessary support to our companies (especially SMEs) to make training available on new health and safety requirements arising from EU laws (drinking water, PFAS, refrigerants, fire safety, etc.)
Pipe nr. 3 – Make green & digital skills a priority
Why is it important?
- Europe’s climate and energy goals cannot be achieved if there is a lack of workforce in the installation sector (50% of total energy consumption in the EU comes from heating), even less in an accelerated way. There is a lack of workforce and of attractiveness in our sector.
What are we doing and planning to do?
- We are involved in the development of training programmes at national and EU level. We exchange best practices on how to best bridge the skills gap and attract men & women into our sector.
Where can you help as policy-maker?
- (Technical) training opportunities for our sector must become a priority for the future European Commission. A “Marshall Plan” should be developed by the EU and its Member States to propose policies commensurate with the needs and responsibilities of the sector.
- We need support to carry out comprehensive assessments of the current and future skill needs.
- European Net-Zero Academies must be supported in developing education and training programmes, as well as the credentials for our sector, respecting national needs.
Pipe nr. 4 – Innovative finance scheme will (almost) solve it all
Why is it important?
- Current support schemes across Europe (targeting end-users) are not providing effective incentives to transition towards innovative climate-friendly HVAC and plumbing solutions at the right speed.
What are we doing and planning to do?
- As our companies play a decisive role in the choices made by end-users towards HVAC and plumbing solutions, we believe that innovative support schemes should specifically target our sector.
Where can you help as policy-maker?
- We suggest the creation of “green installation bonuses”, based on objective assessments (e.g. through Energy Performance Contracts). These “bonuses” could be distributed over time to ensure proper maintenance and be exponentially correlated to achieved results.
- We need support to explore innovative financing solutions, including the one we are proposing, to ensure that public money is efficiently spent and allows for sustainable changes and side benefits.
Pipe nr. 5 – Better governance for more acceptance
Why is it important?
- Policies for an accelerated green and energy transition may create some resistance if the right dialogue is not established and the right allies not found. Sectorial associations play a key role.
What are we doing and planning to do?
- In many countries and hopefully soon all over Europe, national associations are accompanying installation companies in their efforts towards a green and digital transition, by offering trainings, information on upcoming policies and trends, financial support to acquire standards. They also explain the sectors’ needs to policy makers.
Where can you help as policy-maker?
- As collective change requires pedagogy and public acceptance and “close-to-business” solutions, policy-makers should make sectorial associations their allies at national and European level. This should come with adequate financing, recognition and their full involvement in policy governance.
About GCP Europe
GCP Europe is the voice of the building services engineering sector, mechanical contractors, plumbers, and HVAC installers. The association represents their interests at the European Union level and, by doing so, contributes to the achievement of the EU's climate, energy, and prosperity goals.
Contact
Oliver Jung, Secretary-General of GCP Europe
+32486352901