On 8 March 2011 the European Commission published its Energy Efficiency Plan. Environmental NGOs hoped that this plan would become an important instrument for a legally binding 20 per cent energy efficiency target for the EU until 2020. According to Climate Action Network Europe (CAN Europe) the main firm measures proposed are:
- a binding target to double the refurbishment rate of public buildings
- new energy efficiency criteria for public procurement
- a requirement for member states to reduce the legal obstacles that result in split incentives e.g. for building renovation
- enhanced requirements for combined heat and power to be use
- a requirement for member states to establish energy-saving obligation schemes for energy companies
- mandatory energy audits for large companies
- an extended Ecodesign workplan
Some of these are good ideas says CAN Europe, but very little detail is given, and a lot looks likely to be left to the discretion of member states. CAN Europe therefore calls it "an empty shell of an energy efficiency plan" that lists many measures that are already part of business as usual, and contains very little in the way of hard or concrete measures.
Reinhold Pape
Source: Energy Efficiency and Savings: Clearing the fog, Everything you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask about Europe's First Energy Source March 2011
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