Category: EU policies

Positive engagement in EU is much needed by Britain and offers substantial benefits

It is important to look at the Brexit debate from different perspectives. Anna Dedhar and Nick Butler provide an important blog on the Financial Times website about the importance of positive engagement in energy policy even though the EU has only limited competence when it comes to energy policy.   Brexit and European energy policy … Continue reading Positive engagement in EU is much needed by Britain and offers substantial benefits →

Ecodesign and Britain’s referendum on membership in the EU

New rules could save eight million tonnes of oil and 10 million tonnes of CO2 - but Leave campaigners ignore these benefits when attacking EU efficiency standards, argues Andrew Warren, friend of EiD and Chairman of the British Energy Efficiency Federation, on the Business Green website. While you may not be directly affected by the … Continue reading Ecodesign and Britain’s referendum on membership in the EU →

EU sustainable energy directives need to match ambition with real impact

In part, following the global agreement on climate change in Paris last December, EU energy efficiency and renewable energy directives are being reviewed this year, aiming to improve efficiency, cut emissions, increase supply security and save money. But a number of requirements must be met before this can happen, write Marie Linder and Kurt Eliasson … Continue reading EU sustainable energy directives need to match ambition with real impact →

UK low on the EU energy efficiency league table

The energyzine website has reported on a new survey undertaken by Energy Efficiency Watch that ranks all EU member states for their progress in implementing energy efficiency policies. So, where does your country rank?   UK energy efficiency second-worst in EU A new report from a European watchdog has ranked the UK as the second-worst … Continue reading UK low on the EU energy efficiency league table →

More evidence of problems with EU Emissions Trading System

There are concerns in the UK that Tata Steel could close its operations, leading to severe job cuts and economic disruption. Looking at the company from another angle, Arthur Neslen writes in The Guardian about how the company has benefited from more than £700m in free carbon allowances and offsets, according to analysis of emissions … Continue reading More evidence of problems with EU Emissions Trading System →

Monitoring implementation of energy efficiency obligations under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive

For anyone who has had any involvement with the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive, it is well known that this is a complex framework directive that requires considerable effort to achieve the expected impact. Jan Rosenow writes an important blog on the Sussex Energy Group at SPRU website about a recent study he has been involved … Continue reading Monitoring implementation of energy efficiency obligations under the EU Energy Efficiency Directive →

Lack of effective enforcement of EU directives shows high percentage of appliances not meeting standards

In our modern societies we use a lot of appliances. When we buy them, we depend on both the performance standard and the label providing us the performance level to be correct. Otherwise we pay for more electricity than we should and that has repercussions on emissions, energy consumption and our pocketbooks. Arthur Neslen writes … Continue reading Lack of effective enforcement of EU directives shows high percentage of appliances not meeting standards →

Monitoring progress of the national building renovation strategies

On February 26th, EiD published a review of a recent European Commission report that analysed the progress made by Member States in developing their long-term renovation strategies. This is an obligation under the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive. This week, the industry association, EuroACE, published a press release criticising the quality of the analysis. Hopefully the … Continue reading Monitoring progress of the national building renovation strategies →

New report shows gaps in gaps in EU Energy Efficiency Directive renovation strategies

This year, the European Commission will be providing its recommendations for changes in the 2012 Energy Efficiency Directive following a recent consultation. One of the important articles concerns Member States obligation to prepare long-term renovation strategies. The Joint Research Centre of the European Commission recently published an analysis about the Member States renovation strategies as … Continue reading New report shows gaps in gaps in EU Energy Efficiency Directive renovation strategies →