In the press – Op-ed: To prevent future energy prices crises, EU leaders must stop neglecting energy efficiency

Last week, our Secretary General Arianna Vitali Roscini published an op-ed to discuss how energy efficiency and the recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive can contribute to reducing energy bills and alleviating energy poverty.

When European governments devise solutions to cope with the high energy price crisis, they tend to address the problem mainly with supply side measures. This time around, it would be reassuring to see that leaders recognise the key role of energy savings.

There is a quote that I love that is attributed to Albert Einstein, which goes, “We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them”.

This applies perfectly to the situation we are facing: it is impossible to structurally solve the spike in energy prices driven by increased global energy demand with supply side measures only.

Instead, addressing the root causes of the problem requires prioritising the reduction of energy use through the acceleration of energy efficiency measures. Unfortunately, EU leaders seem to neglect how boosting energy savings can alleviate the many crises the EU faces.

The ongoing recast of the Energy Efficiency Directive is the opportunity to put in place a legislative framework that will act as long-term insurance for citizens and businesses alike against the recurring energy price volatility.

Read the full op-ed

View the full special report on energy efficiency and high energy prices.

Media Contact: Milena Vergara +32 4 79 35 01 03 | milena.vergara@energycoalition.eu | @EUenergysavings