Energy policy: energy performance of the buidings of the Union, energy saves and efficiency

Parliament adopted 5 amendment to the common position of the Council at second reading, 2 of which were for new recitals. The commission accepts all 5 amendments proposed by the European Parliament, which were in line with the objectives of the Commission's original proposal or constitute an acceptable compromise. More specifically, the amendments concern : - the proposed Directive's transposition period : this amendment reduces the additional transposition period of 4 years in the common position to 3 years, which is somewhat more in line with the Commission's original proposal. The maximum total possible transposition period thus becomes 3 plus 3 years; - the addition of a new recital (16a) in the common position. This amendment presents in a generic way examples of means and measures for Member States to encourage enhanced energy performance; - the addition of another new recital (18a) in the common position. This amendment presents the importance of individual billing and the ability to regulate one's own consumption of heat and hot water as a means to save energy; - an amendment to recital 20in the common position. The amendment deals with the inherent or intrinsic thermal insulation qualities of construction materials, such as porous concrete blocks; - an amendment to Article 2, point 2 of the common position and concerns the definition of energy performance. This amendment deals with the proper was to estimate or meter energy consumption and present it in relation to a standardised use.�