Chairman of EKYL, Andres Jaadla, elected as Co-chair of the Joint Task Force on Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings of Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency, UNECE

12.02.2019

The fifth session of the Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency (GEEE) of UNECE, Commitee of Sustainable Energy, was held in Kiev, Ukraine, on 13–15 November 2018. The meeting was attended by 104 experts from United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) member States, including Estonia. The agenda of the session contained election of officers of GEEE. The Chairman of EKYL, Andres Jaadla, was elected as Co-chair of the Joint Task Force on Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings. Ex officio, he was invited to join the Bureau of GEEE for the next two years to strengthen its activities.

Delegates discussed the activities and reviewed the accomplishments of the Joint Task Force on Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings, focusing on the outcomes of the study on mapping of energy efficiency standards in buildings, the progress in developing the study on mapping of technologies to enhance energy efficiency in buildings in the UNECE region and in developing a compendium of best practices on standards and technologies for energy efficiency in buildings in the UNECE region.

The UNECE Framework Guidelines on Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings includes setting up international centres of excellence and a consortium of educational and research institutions to promote and implement the High-Performance Buildings Initiative. The member states are encouraged to propose candidates for the global consortium of universities participating in the Global Building Network and the network of local institutions constituting International Centres of Excellence for High-Performance Buildings.

 

The Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency (GEEE) was established by UNECE to carry out results-oriented activities that help significantly improve energy efficiency in the region, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts; and strengthen regional cooperation, with a view to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The GEEE focuses on regulatory and policy dialogue addressing financial, technical and policy barriers, and on sharing best practices, including strengthening institutional capacity in the field of energy efficiency.

The Joint Task Force on Energy Efficiency Standards in Buildings was established by the UNECE Committee on Sustainable Energy and the Committee on Housing and Land Management. The objective of the Joint Task Force is to enhance the harmonization of the markets for products and technological appliances that increase energy efficiency in buildings of the ECE member States. It broadens the exchange of experiences and approaches to increased uptake of energy efficiency measures in buildings among the member States. The Joint Task Force will facilitate the ECE’s support towards the achievement of the targets set by international initiatives such as the Global Goal 7, the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative, and the Geneva UN Charter on Sustainable Housing. All of these initiatives stress the importance of energy efficiency to ensure energy security, mitigate GHG emissions and ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.

The Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations (EKYL) is an independent non-profit organization with more than 1400 members – co-operative housing associations/ apartment associations all over Estonia. Its mission is to support the development of cooperative housing, through the implementation of knowledge-based activities as training, consulting, advisory services, research, national and international cooperation projects. EKYL is a member of the European Federation of Public, Cooperative and Social Housing – HOUSING EUROPE.

The Geneva UN Charter Centre in Estonia was established in 2016 in Estonia in cooperation with UNECE and the Estonian Union of Co-operative Housing Associations. As Charter Centre, EKYL has specialised in the development and organisation of training programs on housing management in countries with economies in transition.