The energy landscape in Europe helps to understand the challenges surrounding energy efficiency and management in buildings.
Energy consumption in Europe accounts for about one-fifth of the energy used worldwide. However, due to the scarcity of hydrocarbon resources on the continent, a large portion of energy is imported. In 2016, more than half of the energy used internally came from imports, making Europe the largest energy importer on the planet.
Regarding electricity production, in 2015 the main source was nuclear energy, which accounted for about 26.5% of the total produced.
Renewable sources have been gaining increasing importance in the European energy mix. Their share increased from 9% in 2005 to nearly 17% in 2015. This increase is due, among other factors, to the reduction in technological costs and public policies that encourage the use of clean energy. The goal set was to reach 20% of renewable energy by 2020. Despite this, fossil fuels continued to be predominant, representing over 72% in 2015.
The sector with the highest energy consumption in Europe is transport (32%), which includes road, air, river, maritime, and rail transport. Next comes the construction sector (residential and tertiary) with 27%, followed by industry (25%) and finally services (13%).
The construction sector is, therefore, the second largest energy consumer in Europe. Improving the energy efficiency of buildings is essential — not only to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions but also to address the problem of energy poverty. Approximately 26 million Europeans cannot adequately heat their homes during winter.