Energy Efficiency Directive
The opportunity for sustainable growth and jobs
The Coalition for Energy Savings believes that a new Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) is a unique opportunity for Europe to bring its 20% energy saving target within reach and put it on course for an economic energy vision for 2050.
Europe is currently on track to miss its energy saving target by more than half, leaving a gap of about 190 Mtoe in 2020. Increasing energy efficiency and savings to close this gap means more and stable local jobs, a healthier environment and increased energy and financial security while spending less on energy bills and imports.
A new Directive is necessary to tackle the many barriers that stand in the way of energy efficiency. But the text proposed by the Commission would only close 2/3 of the current gap towards the 20% energy saving target for 2020 and postpone the setting of national savings targets which could ensure national actions beyond the minimum requirements.
While the European Parliament proposed many improvements that would close the gap, Member States have gone in the wrong direction by weakening the proposed targets and introducing many opt-outs and flexibility mechanisms in the measures.
In order to unlock the energy savings potentials and close the gap to the EU’s 20% target, the Coalition supports an Energy Efficiency Directive that includes:
- Mandatory national targets that add up to Europe’s objective of remaining below 1474 Mtoe of primary energy consumption in 2020;
- Efficiency obligation schemes that guarantee an amount of new and additional end-use energy savings equivalent to a cumulative 1.5% annual target based on a least 2/3 of the total energy sales.
- Provisions to ensure a fundamental improvement of the building stock, including meaningful targets for the public sector and national roadmaps to achieve high and deep building renovation rates with a long-term perspective;
- Requirements to exploit the full potential of energy efficiency improvements in the energy transformation and supply sector;
- National energy efficiency financing facilities to mainstream financing sources, strong public procurement criteria and a harmonised approach for energy audits and energy management systems.
Check our Gapometer to assess the proposals of the Commission, Council and Parliament on the EED!
