Japanese air conditioning company Daikin has unveiled a four-step plan to transform residential heating and cooling in Europe with the goal of decreasing residential CO2 emissions by raising the share of renewable heating and cooling systems to 40% by 2030.
Daikin
Photo: Daikin
The majority of residential buildings are still heated through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil. It is estimated that housing is responsible for approximately 36% of all CO2 emissions in the EU.
In some European countries, renewable heating via heat pumps has become the new standard in new builds. This observation contrasts sharply with the raised EU goal of CO2 emission cuts from 40% to 55% by 2030 in the recently signed European Climate Law.
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Patrick Crombez, General Manager Heating and Renewables at Daikin, said: “A clear and accessible strategy for decarbonising residential heat is needed and renewable technologies are playing an essential role in achieving the new targets, especially in the replacement market. Daikin has adopted the ambitious new targets and takes the lead with a four-step guide to transform residential heating.”
The four steps to decarbonising residential heat
The company says that the first step of this new plan is to strengthen rules on energy use in new build housing. Daikin estimates that heat pumps already have up to 50% market share in new single-family houses across Europe, but a reinforcement of the current rules is required in order to make heat pumps the standard.
The second step is to increase the replacement rate. In order to achieve the objectives of the European Climate Law, the replacement rate must double from 1% to 2% by 2030. By increasing the replacement rate, old systems are being replaced by more energy-efficient ones, leading naturally to emission cuts. The next challenge is therefore to motivate EU citizens to choose renewable solutions. This involves the need to explain on a wider scale that renewable heating systems, like heat pumps, are an efficient, cost-effective and established solution.
The third step consists of ending fossil fuel incentives. Policymakers should avoid incentives for fossil fuels. A recent report found that despite promises for a green recovery, G7 nations still more spent more on "dirty" energy sectors than clean ones. The same applies for heat pump technology and the gap between today’s electricity and gas prices in many member states is too high to make it accessible for all EU citizens.
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The final step is to make renewable heating the standard in replacement. Daikin said that heat pumps are the best solution. Indeed, they are increasingly capable of high efficiencies even at lower outdoor temperatures. They are therefore fit for any type of house or apartment. Using renewable energy sources to heat your home reduces the consumption of polluting fossil fuels and CO2 emissions.
Daikin has set itself the goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 and said that these four steps are the most effective way of decarbonising residential heating systems, adding that all stakeholders should roll up their sleeves and join the movement.
“All the signs are indicating that we need to act now. Words are no longer enough; clear actions are needed. This is the only way we can make Europe climate neutral by 2050,” Crombez concluded.
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