Energy Efficiency Green Paper

European Union “will only cut emissions by 2pc�

An EU body, the European Environment Agency, has warned that the Union was likely to cut its emissions of greenhouse gases by only 2.5% of 1990 levels by the year 2012, rather than the 8% target that had been set.

Add comment January 23rd, 2006

Europe “will fall behind without energy saving and renewables�

A report by the UK Institute for Public Policy Research on 28th December claimed that only the UK and Sweden are on course to meet their 2012 Kyoto commitments, and that European countries need to take action, including energy saving and investing in renewable energy.

Ten of 15 European Union signatories including Ireland, Italy and Spain will miss the targets without urgent action. France, Greece and Germany are given an “amber warning” and will not reach the targets unless they implement planned policies, the IPPR said.

Add comment January 19th, 2006

Need to focus on new energy efficiency targets.

Europe’s future energy efficiency and climate change targets are likely to be more challenging than the considerable gains achieved to date. Main contributors in the past have included improved standards of insulation, the handling of hot and cold fluids in many areas including domestic appliances, boilers and the food industry. Also the basic streamlining of production processes, particularly in the high temperature industries.

Much of the significant gains in these areas have already been made. New points of focus, possibly higher investment in cogeneration, and the wider adoption of newer technologies, could be essential for further improvement.

Add comment December 19th, 2005

Making cost-effective energy savings

The Green Paper describes energy savings as being cost effective (eg an average EU household could save between €200 and €1000 per year). But in addition to being substantial, should energy savings also make an eye-catching net return on capital, and take account of other issues. Including disruption to existing premises and any risks associated with a new technology?

Suggests the scope to examine the threshold tiers of savings levels likely to be of potential interest to various categories of major energy users. For example householders, renters of commercial property and the financial directors of industrial companies.

1 comment November 28th, 2005

Setting the Green Paper energy savings targets

Do the savings proposed in the Green Paper, 20% by 2020, represent a sufficiently challenging target? INFORSE , a network of about 70 NGOs working for sustainable energy solutions to protect environment and reduce poverty, say that 20% should be a minimum for 2020, and supplemented with a target of not less than a 14% for 2015, the centre year of the Kyoto Protocol’s second period.

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Could we not audit progress even more closely, perhaps in the form of three five-year plans, and raise the final target if demographic, economic or market changes, as well as advances in new technology, reduce the challenge of the existing goal?

Challenging interim targets will also overcome the temptation to put off efforts until the target date becomes much nearer.

1 comment October 28th, 2005