Glass for Europe has urged the European Union to maintain energy efficiency at the heart of its climate, industrial, and energy policies beyond 2030, highlighting the crucial role that high-performance glazing can play in reducing energy consumption, improving energy security, and strengthening competitiveness.

In its contribution to the European Commission’s call for evidence on the future energy efficiency legal framework, the association emphasized that energy efficiency must remain a cornerstone of the EU’s strategy to achieve its 2040 climate targets. According to Glass for Europe, reducing energy demand through effective and scalable measures offers a structural solution to the challenges posed by volatile energy markets and dependence on imported fuels.

The organization pointed out that buildings remain one of the EU’s most energy-intensive sectors, accounting for around 40% of total energy consumption and approximately half of the bloc’s gas use. Studies cited in the submission indicate that ambitious building efficiency measures could reduce emissions beyond current 2030 targets, cut energy infrastructure costs, ease grid congestion, and significantly lower gas imports.

Glass for Europe stressed that upgrading windows should be recognized as a priority within renovation strategies. Inefficient windows can be responsible for up to 30% of a building’s energy loss, making glazing improvements one of the most effective ways to reduce heating and cooling demand.

The association highlighted the benefits of high-performance glazing technologies, including low-emissivity and solar control glass. These solutions not only improve energy performance but also enhance indoor comfort, daylight management, occupant well-being, and long-term affordability.

Despite these advantages, Glass for Europe noted that glazing upgrades remain underrepresented in many national renovation plans, which tend to focus primarily on insulation and heating systems. The organization believes this policy gap should be addressed in the post-2030 framework.

Among its recommendations, Glass for Europe calls for stronger implementation of the Energy Efficiency First principle, increased renovation requirements for public buildings, dedicated funding mechanisms for energy-efficient building upgrades, and greater recognition of the flat glass industry as a strategic contributor to Europe’s decarbonization and competitiveness objectives.