Energy savings targets revisited

Negotiators of the draft Energy Efficiency Directive have been struggling for months to settle on a strategy to achieve the 2020 energy savings target. The Commission, Council, Parliament and all stakeholders agree that the indicative 20% energy savings target will not be achieved with current policies and programmes. There have been debates about how to … Continue reading Energy savings targets revisited →

Why is EU energy saving easier said than done?

This is an excellent question and answer article by Barbara Lewis of Reuter’s that was published on March 15th. The topic is one that anyone working in energy efficiency in Europe has struggled with endlessly. Q&A – Why is EU energy saving easier said than done? (Reuters) - A draft European Union law on energy … Continue reading Why is EU energy saving easier said than done? →

IEA unveils new initiatives on sustainable energy policies and technologies in the buildings sector

Cutting back on the amount of energy consumed in buildings all over the world will represent a significant step forward in efforts to strengthen energy security and combat climate change, International Energy Agency Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said as she announced new IEA initiatives on sustainable energy policies and technologies in the buildings … Continue reading IEA unveils new initiatives on sustainable energy policies and technologies in the buildings sector →

Video-in-Demand

EiD has come across two excellent videos for EiD readers. The first is by Peter Sweatman for Eurima, the European Insulation Manufacturers, on Financing Mechanisms for Europe’s Buildings Renovations. This is an excellent argument for an ambitious energy efficiency directive and the need for incentives for building refurbishment. The second is by the UNFCCC Executive … Continue reading Video-in-Demand →

Brussels . . . Briefly . . .

Following the vote by the European Parliament on February 28th, it is now the turn of the European Council under the Presidency of Denmark to get a common position in order to start the trialogues. For information on the co-decision process, go to the Reference Material page. All indications show that the negotiations will start … Continue reading Brussels . . . Briefly . . . →

Let’s meet in Paris

It is almost springtime and the meeting season has already started. It is Energy Efficiency Week at the IEA from March 12th to 16th and there are three important workshops. On Wednesday, March 14th a workshop on “The Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency” will expand on previous IEA work on multiple benefits for fuel poverty … Continue reading Let’s meet in Paris →

Draft Energy Efficiency Directive Passes Major Hurdle

As widely reported in the press this week, the European Parliamentary Committee responsible for energy matters voted 31 to 22 to start negotiations with the EU Council on the final legislation. It follows months of work on the draft directive, which has already been amended 1,800 times. Key to the proposed legislation is a binding … Continue reading Draft Energy Efficiency Directive Passes Major Hurdle →

New Reference Material

New material on the glossary of terms for the co-decision process has been added to the EiD page on Reference Material. To help readers, various updates on policies, programmes, definitions and so on related to energy efficiency and renewable energy have been added. Now, on the page you will find: 1 European Energy Efficiency Policies … Continue reading New Reference Material →

Briefly speaking . . .

China increase in energy consumption Bloomberg News reports that China's energy use rose at the fastest pace in four years in 2011, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Consumption climbed 7 % to 3.48 billion metric tons of standard coal equivalent. That was the fastest rate since 2007, when it grew 7.8 %. However, … Continue reading Briefly speaking . . . →

IEA Energy Policy Review of Denmark

The International Energy Agency recently published a report on Danish energy policies. The IEA in-depth review opens: “Denmark is a leader among OECD member countries in terms of renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change policies.” This is obviously a winning combination. The report sets the scene by stating that Denmark has a long history … Continue reading IEA Energy Policy Review of Denmark →