More and more green houses are springing up in Europe which means less wasted energy and more respect for the environment.

A-Z: Z for Zero Energy

https://api.multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/documents/20125/14896971/j002-0025-en.srt

Europe is taking actions   against climate change.

It's 20-20-20 by 2020.   20% reduction in greenhouse gases

Buildings are the biggest energy guzzlers

One way to combat global warming   is found at home.

More green buildings are   springing up in Europe

Houses of the future   will consume zero energy.

What do a thermos and a passive house   have in common?

Both keep heat   and both are waterproof.

Like many Europeans,   Béatrice and Raphaël decided

to use as little energy   as possible in their home.

In this house in Belgium,   regular heating is not necessary.

In order to turn a regular house   into a passive one,

it's preferable for windows   to be facing south,

to improve insulation,   which means thicker walls,

to use double,   or even better triple, glazing.

In short, the house must be   as waterproof as possible.

Hot and cold air exchanges allow   to maintain

a temperature close to 20°C all year long.

Thanks to that system, Béatrice   and Raphaël saved 75% of energy.

They significantly cut down   on their CO2 emissions.

Should all Europeans do likewise,   the EU would save a lot of energy.

Because buildings consume   a lot of energy.

They make up for 40%   of European expenses

and for 25% of the world's   CO2 emissions.

They're also to blame for global warming.

With the quick rise of gas and electricity   costs and the planet's overheating,

the European Commission wants to limit   energy waste as much as possible.

It insists for Member States to increase   their number of passive houses.

The Parliament even wants to go further:

its aim for 2009 is that all buildings   produce as much energy as they eat up.

Béatrice and Raphaël didn't wait for this   to reduce their energy consumption.

They installed solar panels. The sun   gives them electricity and hot water.

But it's possible to do even better:   with a windmill for instance.

They could turn their passive house   into a Zero Energy House.

They would then produce   all of the energy they need

so as to use in winter the energy   stored during the summer.

They'd be done with gas and energy bills.

But it's hard to convince Europeans   to convert their houses.

The Parliament is asking Member States   to create funds

Meanwhile, the European Commission   opened a website, Build-Up,

to make their houses   environment-friendly

and make them consume   hardly any energy.

Find more tricks to combat climate   change soon on A-Z.