Enigin Update - EU Commissioner calls for more to be done on Energy Efficiency
GUNTHER Oettinger, European Union (EU) commissioner admitted that member countries have "achieved very little" to meet the 20 per cent energy saving targets.
Speaking today at the launch of the EU sustainable energy week, Oettinger forewarned the commission is considering legally-binding energy efficiency targets.
He stated that "too little" had been achieved so far, with only a little being invested in the 20 percent saving target in energy consumption by 2020.
Although Oettinger revealed that progress was being made in other EU's energy aims, such as a 20 percent reduction in CO2 emissions.
"When it comes to energy efficiency, I have to say that we are just at the start of the process," Oettinger said.
Oettinger believes energy efficiency is "crucial" and "at the top" of the agenda, in Europe but also elsewhere, particularly in the United States and China.
"Currently, we are very dependent on raw materials for our energy and we do not save enough energy.” Oettinger added, while calling for an increase in "innovation" in energy saving.
"We have to achieve 20 per cent savings in energy efficiency over the next nine years but, so far, we have achieved very little.
"If member states do not meet these targets we are going to have to set binding targets that will be set down in EU legislation."
He revealed that although 12 per cent of buildings across Europe, including hospitals, universities and schools, belong to public authorities but only 1.5 percent are energy efficient.
"We need to increase this figure to three percent otherwise it will take us 60 years to achieve our energy efficiency gains. We have to go further, optimise technology and ensure that older buildings are more energy efficient."
European based Enigin Distributors have the range of energy efficiency solutions from Enigin that can help both the private and public sectors. Enigin Plc's technology enables decision makers and managers to reduce costs, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Picture of Brussels European Union Parliament by Xavier Larrosa.
