"Europe needs a competition among communities to push for the best concepts for a broad introduction of solar energy in housing construction and urban development." [1]

On January, 23rd 2008, the European Commission delivered the first draft of the Directive, which aims at reorganising support schemes and targets for all renewable energy sources (RES), where renewable heating was recognised to play a key role in the sustainable and secure energy supply in the EU.

Article 12 foresees an obligation, for all the Member States, to ask for a minimum contribution by RES in delivering energy for new buildings and major refurbishment.

At the same time, the draft Directive highlights the urgent need for a simplification of the administrative burdens, which have so far seriously limited the diffusion of RES in buildings. Recommendations like “clearly defined responsibilities”, “ precise deadlines”, “streamlined and expedited administrative procedures”, “objective rules”, which are very often not met in the daily practice, are clearly set as priorities in the draft text.

This quite good general framework will need, of course, a remarkable effort in order to be implemented fruitfully at national level.