No L 52/32 Official Journal of the European Communities 23. 2. 78 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE of 13 February 1978 on the performance of heat generators for space heating and the production of hot water in new or existing non-industrial buildings and on the insulation of heat and domestic hot-water distribution in new non-industrial buildings (78/170/EEC) THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES, Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Economic Community, and in particular Article 103 thereof, : Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, Having regard to the opinion of the European Parlia- ment (1), Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee (?), Whereas, in its resolution of 17 September 1974 concerning a new energy policy strategy for the Community (%), the Council adopted the objective of a reduction of the rate of growth of internal consump- tion by measures for using energy rationally and economically  without jeopardizing social and economic growth objectives ; Whereas, in its resolution of 17 December 1974 on a Community action programme on the rational utiliza- tion of energy (*), the Council noted that, in its communications to the Council entitled ‘Rational utili- zation of energy’, the Commission had drawn up a Community action programme in this field; Whereas any improvement in the rational use of energy is generally beneficial to the environment; Whereas the sector concerned with heating systems in buildings lends itself to such measures ; Whereas recommendation 76/493/EEC (%), related to the heating systems of existing buildings ; Whereas in the case of new heating systems it is neces- sary to achieve energy savings as soon as possible which will have an influence on total energy consump- tion as and when the systems are installed ; Whereas, to this end, a Directive should be adopted to provide a general framework within which the () OJ No C 266, 7. 11. 1977, p. S5. (2) OJ No C 287, 30. 11. 1977, p. 9. () OJ No C 153, 9. 7. 1975, p. 1. (4) OJ No C 153, 9. 7. 1975, p. 5. (>) O] No L 140, 28. 5. 1976, p. 12. Member States would jointly explore energy saving methods designed to lessen the impact of the supply difficulties referred to in Article 103 (4) of the Treaty; Whereas heat generators for space heating and the production of domestic hot water in new or existing non-industrial buildings should be inspected at the stage of manufacture or at the time of installation ; Whereas it should be made compulsory in new non- industrial buildings to provide, in economically justifi- able conditions, thermal insulation both for generators and for the system whereby the heated fluids are distri- buted ; Whereas the Commission should receive regular infor- mation on the implementing measures adopted and the results obtained or anticipated ; Whereas the implementing measures adopted for this Directive should incorporate the measures adopted for the approximation of the laws of the Member States in the fields concerned by this Directive and should be directed towards facilitating the harmonization and standardization work in progress or to be undertaken in these fields both at Community and international level, HAS ADOPTED THIS DIRECTIVE : Article 1 1. Member States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that all new heat generators for space heating and/or the production of hot water in new or existing non-industrial  buildings comply with minimum performance requirements. In the case of generators capable of using various forms of energy, the minimum performance require- ments must relate to each form of energy used.