Energy & Power

WORLD

Europe Plans 20% Energy Saving

Farid Ahmed

Bangladesh is not the only country in the world which faces many challenges for energy. So does the developed world. But, what they do is a step forward to ensure fulfilling needs of their people. And the difference is made here with Bangladesh.

As a major step towards meeting the unprecedented energy challenges facing the European Union (EU), the European Commission (EC) has unveiled its Energy Efficiency Action Plan that contains a package of priority measures covering a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency initiatives.

These include actions to make energy appliances, establishments, transports and energy generation more efficient. Stringent new energy efficiency standards, promotion of energy services, specific financing mechanisms to support more energy efficient products are proposed. The Commission will furthermore set a Covenant of Mayors of the 20-30 most pioneering cities in Europe and will propose an international agreement on energy efficiency.

Altogether, over 75 measures are set forth. "Europeans need to save energy. Europe wastes at least 20 percent of the energy it uses. By saving energy, Europe will help address climate change, as well as its rising consumption, and its dependence on fossil fuels imported from outside the Union's borders," said Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs.

"Energy efficiency is crucial for Europe: If we take action now, the direct cost of our energy consumption could be reduced by more than €100 billion annually by 2020; around 780 millions tons of CO2 will also be avoided yearly," he pointed out.

The Action Plan, which will be implemented over the next six years, is in response to the urgent call from Heads of State and Government at the Spring European Council this year for a realistic Energy Efficiency strategy. The Plan underlines the importance of minimum energy performance standards for a wide range of appliances and equipment (from household goods such as fridges and air conditioners to industrial pumps and fans), and for buildings and energy services.

In combination with performance ratings and labeling schemes minimum performance standards represent a powerful tool for removing inefficient products from the market, informing consumers of the most efficient products and transforming the market to make it more energy efficient. Minimum performance requirements for new and renovated buildings will be developed. Very low energy consumption buildings (or passive houses) will also be promoted.

The Plan emphasizes the considerable potential for reducing losses in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. The Action Plan proposes targeted instruments to improve the efficiency of both new and existing generation capacity and to reduce transmission and distribution losses.

A comprehensive set of measures for improving energy efficiency in the area of transport is put forward. The Plan recognizes that energy savings can be achieved, in particular, by ensuring fuel efficiency of cars, developing markets for cleaner vehicles, ensuring proper tyre pressure and by improving the efficiency of urban, rail, maritime and aviation transport systems. It recognizes the importance of changing transportation behavior.

The Action Plan also calls for appropriate and predictable price signals, essential for improving energy efficiency and overall economic performance.

It contains a number of additional proposals to raise energy efficiency awareness, such as education and training. Finally, the Plan emphasizes the urgent need for energy efficiency issues to be addressed on a global level through international partnerships.

The Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, when fully implemented, can thus improve the Union's competitiveness, improve the living standards of its citizens, boost employment and increase exports of new, energy-efficient technology. On an individual level, small changes in energy consumption patterns will mean saving money, improving the environment and sharing for common European goals.

In June 2005 the European Commission presented its Green Paper on Energy Efficiency, where it analyzed the current energy situation and drew up a series of actions to be discussed, commented on and supplemented by all stakeholders. This was followed by the Green Paper on a European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy adopted in March this year, which underlined the need for a strengthened energy policy for Europe to meet EU objectives.

Finally, in reaction to this, the 2006 Spring Council called for an ambitious and realistic Action Plan on Energy Efficiency, listing specific actions, considering it a matter of urgency. The resulting policies and measures were based on input from stakeholders who participated in the consultation process on the Energy Efficiency Green Paper.

In addition to this, the European Parliament provided over 100 recommendations on the subject, almost all of which supported the measures finally selected for the Action Plan. However, the European Commission has been promoting various aspects of energy efficiency through a number of programs and directives for a much longer period already.