The 'top priority' is efficiency
article below from EC Inform-Energy, April 2005

Energy efficiency is to be the top priority for 2005, according to Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs. As a first step, he will be issuing a new Green Paper, which will set out a range of "ambitious ideas" on how finally to realise the 20% of cost-effective energy savings long identified.

Addressing a plenary session of the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (Euroace) on 24 March, the Commissioner said that he was conscious of the need to ensure that all 25 Member States implemented the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive "purposefully". He added that he would consider expanding the Directive's requirements, to cover mandatory refurbishment of existing homes, in addition to the current requirements for upgrading of commerical buildings.

Referring to the draft Energy Services Directive, he reiterated his determination that it should include some mandatory targets for energy saving within it. "We tried the voluntary delivery route under the old 1993 SAVE Directive. It failed entirely," he said.

He also drew attention to the need to explore how the structural funds programme might be used more effectively to increase energy efficiency investment. The Commissioner concluded by saying: "Our goal is to make sure Europe's citizens, and its businesses, adopt a new and far more active approach to investing in enery efficiency measures in buildings, the biggest area of energy consumption."

© Newzeye Ltd, 2005