Today for the third time the European Parliament recognised the importance of heating and cooling in its report on a 2030 climate and energy policy framework.

In the past, the Parliament has twice called on the Commission to avoid maintaining a narrow focus on electricity, and to fully integrate the heating and cooling sector into the pathways towards a sustainable energy model. Nevertheless, heating and cooling remains largely neglected by EU policies despite representing over 45% of the final energy consumption in the European Union compared to 20% for electricity (IEA, 2011).

In its report on a 2030 climate and energy policy framework, the Parliament calls on:

• "the EU to consider the full integration of the heating and cooling sector in the pathways towards a sustainable energy system";
• "the Commission to gather the required data reflecting the sources and the uses of heating and cooling, as well as the distribution of heat to the different groups of final consumers (e.g. residential, industry, tertiary)";
• "the Member States and the Commission to support readily available efficient heating and cooling solutions".

Read more here.