A new publication from the European Commission describes initiatives that have been successfully implemented across Europe to promote energy efficiency.
In the introduction to the publication, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy Miguel Arias Cañete writes, 'the cheapest energy, the cleanest energy, the most secure energy is the energy that is not used at all. Energy efficiency needs to be considered as a source of energy in its own right. It is one of the most cost effective ways to support the transition to a low carbon economy and to prompt further investment opportunities and to create growth and employment.'
The publication highlights examples of energy efficiency good practice applicable to buildings, industrial processes and services, as well as energy efficiency regulations for products sold in the EU. It also focuses on the different sources of funding available for energy efficiency investments. It can be read online, and paper copies will also be available at EU libraries, documentation centres, and national and regional representations.
The publication is aimed at public authorities implementing energy efficiency policies and, more generally, everyone with an interest in energy efficiency. It reviews the successful measures that EU countries have put in place to promote energy efficiency and to implement EU energy efficiency legislation. These include national energy efficiency obligation schemes, that require action to be taken in each EU country to save energy, and energy performance requirements for buildings. It also covers the implementation of ecodesign and energy labelling requirements. These apply to many everyday products sold in Europe and will result in energy savings of around 175 Mtoe (million tonnes of oil equivalent) by 2020, roughly equivalent to the annual primary energy consumption of Italy.
EU climate and energy targets for 2020
'Clean Energy for All Europeans' package
Source: © European Union, 1995-2017