Energy Efficiency - EU Minister Want Voluntary Energy Efficiency Targets
EUROPEAN Union (EU) energy ministers said Friday that efforts to improve energy efficiency in the 27-member states should include voluntary rather than binding national targets.
The EU set a 20 percent boost in energy efficiency by 2020 target but the European Commission (EC) projected it will fail and will reach only around 10 percent unless other measures are adopted.
The EC has continually proposed binding measures earlier this year, including this call in its energy efficiency action plan designed to ensure the target is met. The EC is now preparing to publish a new energy efficiency action plan over the coming weeks.
Although welcoming the action plan and agreeing a need for further energy efficiency efforts, the energy council conclusions only referred to voluntary targets.
"Member States' setting of indicative, voluntary national energy efficiency targets as part of the National Reform Programs, taking account of their starting points, national circumstances and potentials, makes a valuable contribution to creating commitment and visibility for national efforts, and allows for follow-up and monitoring," the conclusions state.
They merely "took note" of the EC's measure that EU state governments should refurbish 3 percent of their public authority buildings annually.
Ministers encouraged national governments to "improve their rate of refurbishment in a cost-efficient way," making a nod towards concerns over affordability during a difficult financial period.
Ministers also called for the Commission to consider "alternative approaches that would achieve an equivalent level of overall reduction in energy consumption through deep renovation of public authorities' building stock, and to propose respective measures as appropriate."
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