PURPOSE: to present a Commission Communication on an\nAction Plan for energy efficiency.
\nCONTENT: This Action Plan outlines a framework of\npolicies and measures with a view to intensifying the process of\nrealising the over 20% estimated savings potential in EU annual\nprimary energy consumption by 2020. The Plan lists a range of\ncost-effective measures, proposing 10 priority actions to be\ninitiated immediately, and others to be initiated gradually over\nthe Plan's six year period. Further action will subsequently be\nrequired to reach the full potential by 2020. Realising the 20%\npotential 2020, equivalent to some 390 Mtoe, will result in large\nenergy and environmental benefits. CO2 emissions should be reduced\nby 780 Mt CO2 with respect to the baseline scenario, more than\ntwice the EU reductions needed under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012.\nAdditional investment expenditure in more efficient and innovative\ntechnologies will be more than compensated by the more than EUR 100\nbillions annual fuel savings.
\nEven though energy efficiency has improved\nconsiderably in recent years, it is still technically and\neconomically feasible to save at least 20% of total primary energy\nby 2020 on top of what would be achieved by price effects and\nstructural changes in the economy, natural replacement of\ntechnology and measures already in place. The largest\ncost-effective savings potential lies in the residential\n(households) and commercial buildings sector (tertiary sector),\nwhere the full potential is now estimated to be around 27% and 30%\nof energy use, respectively. For manufacturing industry, the\noverall potential is estimated to be around 25%, where peripheral\nequipment such as motors, fans and lighting9 offer the most important savings potential. For\ntransport, a similar full savings potential of 26 % is estimated, a\nfigure which includes a significant impact from shifting to other\nmodes of traffic10, in line with\nthe Mid-term review of the White Paper on transport.
\nThe Action Plan highlights key proposals and places\nthem in a political context. These proposals take into account\nrecently adopted legislation on EU and other levels, which has\nalready contributed to making Europe a world leader in energy\nefficiency. The annex contains a comprehensive list of\nmeasures, along with a timetable. The priority actions are as\nfollows:
\nPriority\nAction 1: appliance and equipment labelling and minimum energy\nperformance standards. Updated and dynamic\nlabelling and minimum energy performance standards for appliances\nand other energy-using equipment will be developed as from 2007 on\nthe basis of the Labelling and the Eco-design Directives. Special\nattention will be devoted to standby loss reduction. The Commission\nwill start adopting such requirements for 14 priority product\ngroups with a view to having all of them approved by the end of\n2008. The Commission will revise the Framework Directive 92/75/EC\non labelling to reinforce its effectiveness. The existing labelling\nclassifications will be upgraded.
\nPriority\nAction 2: building performance requirements and very low energy\nbuildings (\"passive houses\"). The Commission will propose\nexpanding the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings\nDirective substantially in 2009, after its complete implementation.\nIt will also propose EU minimum performance requirements for new\nand renovated buildings (kWh/m²). For new buildings, the\nCommission will also develop a strategy for very low energy or\npassive housesin dialogue with Member States\nand key stakeholders towards more wide-spread deployment of these\nhouses by 2015. The Commission will set a good example by leading\nthe way, as far as its own buildings are concerned.
\nPriority\nAction 3: making power generation and distribution more\nefficient. The Commission will develop\nminimum binding efficiency requirements for new electricity,\nheating and cooling capacity lower than 20 MWand consider such\nrequirements for larger production units. It will also develop with\nthe energy supply industry guidelines on good operating practices\nfor existing capacity to raise average generation efficiency for\nall plants and agree guidelines on good regulatory practices to\nreduce transmission and distribution losses. A proposal for a new\nregulatory framework to promote the connection of decentralised\ngeneration will be put forward in 2007.
\nPriority\nAction 4: achieving fuel efficiency of cars. The Commission will,\nif necessary, propose legislation to ensure that the 120 g\nCO2/km target is\nachieved by 2012 through a comprehensive and consistent approach,\nin accordance with the agreed EU objective. In parallel it will\npropose to strengthen EU requirements for labelling of cars. Should\nit become clear that the voluntary commitments of the car industry\nto reach 140 g CO2/km by 2008/2009\nwill not be honoured, the Commission will not hesitate to propose\nlegislation.
\nPriority\nAction 5: facilitating appropriate financing of energy efficiency\ninvestments for SMEs and Energy Service Companies:\nthrough a number of specific\ninitiatives, the Commission will call upon the banking sector to\noffer finance packages specifically aimed at SMEs and Energy\nService Companies to adopt energy efficiency savings identified in\nenergy audits. Access to Community financing, such as Green\nInvestment Funds, co-financed by CIP, will be made available for\npromoting eco-innovations.
\nPriority\nAction 6: spurring energy efficiency in the new Member\nStates. Within the framework of cohesion\npolicy, energy efficiency is one of the priorities. The Commission\nwill encourage European Regional Policy to deploy its national and\nregional programmes to promote more intensive\ninvestmentto improve energy efficiency, in\nparticular in the new Member States, including in the multi-family\nand social housing sectors. In addition, the Commission will\npromote networking amongst Member States and regions to ensure\nfinancing of best practices in energy efficiency.
\nPriority\nAction 7: a coherent use of taxation. The Commission will prepare a\nGreen Paper on indirect taxation (2007) and will subsequently\nreview the Energy Tax Directive to facilitate a more targeted and\ncoherent use of energy taxation by integrating energy efficiency\nconsiderations and environmental aspects. In addition, the\nCommission will consider in 2007 the costs and benefits of using\ntax credits as incentives for enterprises, on one hand, to promote\nthe increased production of certified energy-efficient appliances\nand equipment and for consumers, on the other, to promote the\npurchase of such appliances and equipment.
\nPriority\nAction 8: raising energy efficiency awareness. Priority areas,\nbesides improved labelling, will include education and training\nplans and programmes for energy managers in industry and utilities.\nIncluded will also be teaching aids for primary, secondary and\nvocational educational curricula. These will be developed as of\n2007 through Community programmes, by recommendations to Member\nSates and through co-operation with Member State and Community\neducational agencies.
\nPriority\nAction 9: energy efficiency in built-up areas. A \"Covenant of\nMayors\" will be created by the Commission in 2007 bringing together\nin a permanent network the mayors of 20-30 of Europe's largest and\nmost pioneering cities. The aim is to exchange and apply best\npractices thereby improving energy efficiency significantly in the\nurban environment, where local policy decisions and initiatives are\nimportant, including transport.
\nPriority\nAction 10: foster energy efficiency worldwide. In order to promote\nenergy efficiency worldwide, the Commission will take the\ninitiative in 2007 to reach a framework agreement with key external\ntrading partner countries and international organisations. The\nagreement will focus on improving energy efficiency in end-use\nsectors and in energy transformation and will use a large number of\npolicies and measures.
\nThese measures could start\nproducing effects in the next six years, many in the coming three.\nA major mid-term review will take place in 2009 during the\nimplementation of the Action Plan. The Commission stresses\nthat, more than anything,\npolitical will and engagement at national, regional and local level\nare necessary if the objectives here are to be achieved. Therefore,\nit is for the Council and the European Parliament and for national\nand regional policy makers to renew their full commitment and\nestablish a clear and unambiguous mandate to facilitate the\nimplementation of this Action Plan by endorsing it and agreeing on\nthe proposals set forth.
\nPURPOSE: to present a Commission Communication on an\nAction Plan for energy efficiency.
\nCONTENT: This Action Plan outlines a framework of\npolicies and measures with a view to intensifying the process of\nrealising the over 20% estimated savings potential in EU annual\nprimary energy consumption by 2020. The Plan lists a range of\ncost-effective measures, proposing 10 priority actions to be\ninitiated immediately, and others to be initiated gradually over\nthe Plan's six year period. Further action will subsequently be\nrequired to reach the full potential by 2020. Realising the 20%\npotential 2020, equivalent to some 390 Mtoe, will result in large\nenergy and environmental benefits. CO2 emissions should be reduced\nby 780 Mt CO2 with respect to the baseline scenario, more than\ntwice the EU reductions needed under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012.\nAdditional investment expenditure in more efficient and innovative\ntechnologies will be more than compensated by the more than EUR 100\nbillions annual fuel savings.
\nEven though energy efficiency has improved\nconsiderably in recent years, it is still technically and\neconomically feasible to save at least 20% of total primary energy\nby 2020 on top of what would be achieved by price effects and\nstructural changes in the economy, natural replacement of\ntechnology and measures already in place. The largest\ncost-effective savings potential lies in the residential\n(households) and commercial buildings sector (tertiary sector),\nwhere the full potential is now estimated to be around 27% and 30%\nof energy use, respectively. For manufacturing industry, the\noverall potential is estimated to be around 25%, where peripheral\nequipment such as motors, fans and lighting9 offer the most important savings potential. For\ntransport, a similar full savings potential of 26 % is estimated, a\nfigure which includes a significant impact from shifting to other\nmodes of traffic10, in line with\nthe Mid-term review of the White Paper on transport.
\nThe Action Plan highlights key proposals and places\nthem in a political context. These proposals take into account\nrecently adopted legislation on EU and other levels, which has\nalready contributed to making Europe a world leader in energy\nefficiency. The annex contains a comprehensive list of\nmeasures, along with a timetable. The priority actions are as\nfollows:
\nPriority\nAction 1: appliance and equipment labelling and minimum energy\nperformance standards. Updated and dynamic\nlabelling and minimum energy performance standards for appliances\nand other energy-using equipment will be developed as from 2007 on\nthe basis of the Labelling and the Eco-design Directives. Special\nattention will be devoted to standby loss reduction. The Commission\nwill start adopting such requirements for 14 priority product\ngroups with a view to having all of them approved by the end of\n2008. The Commission will revise the Framework Directive 92/75/EC\non labelling to reinforce its effectiveness. The existing labelling\nclassifications will be upgraded.
\nPriority\nAction 2: building performance requirements and very low energy\nbuildings (\"passive houses\"). The Commission will propose\nexpanding the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings\nDirective substantially in 2009, after its complete implementation.\nIt will also propose EU minimum performance requirements for new\nand renovated buildings (kWh/m²). For new buildings, the\nCommission will also develop a strategy for very low energy or\npassive housesin dialogue with Member States\nand key stakeholders towards more wide-spread deployment of these\nhouses by 2015. The Commission will set a good example by leading\nthe way, as far as its own buildings are concerned.
\nPriority\nAction 3: making power generation and distribution more\nefficient. The Commission will develop\nminimum binding efficiency requirements for new electricity,\nheating and cooling capacity lower than 20 MWand consider such\nrequirements for larger production units. It will also develop with\nthe energy supply industry guidelines on good operating practices\nfor existing capacity to raise average generation efficiency for\nall plants and agree guidelines on good regulatory practices to\nreduce transmission and distribution losses. A proposal for a new\nregulatory framework to promote the connection of decentralised\ngeneration will be put forward in 2007.
\nPriority\nAction 4: achieving fuel efficiency of cars. The Commission will,\nif necessary, propose legislation to ensure that the 120 g\nCO2/km target is\nachieved by 2012 through a comprehensive and consistent approach,\nin accordance with the agreed EU objective. In parallel it will\npropose to strengthen EU requirements for labelling of cars. Should\nit become clear that the voluntary commitments of the car industry\nto reach 140 g CO2/km by 2008/2009\nwill not be honoured, the Commission will not hesitate to propose\nlegislation.
\nPriority\nAction 5: facilitating appropriate financing of energy efficiency\ninvestments for SMEs and Energy Service Companies:\nthrough a number of specific\ninitiatives, the Commission will call upon the banking sector to\noffer finance packages specifically aimed at SMEs and Energy\nService Companies to adopt energy efficiency savings identified in\nenergy audits. Access to Community financing, such as Green\nInvestment Funds, co-financed by CIP, will be made available for\npromoting eco-innovations.
\nPriority\nAction 6: spurring energy efficiency in the new Member\nStates. Within the framework of cohesion\npolicy, energy efficiency is one of the priorities. The Commission\nwill encourage European Regional Policy to deploy its national and\nregional programmes to promote more intensive\ninvestmentto improve energy efficiency, in\nparticular in the new Member States, including in the multi-family\nand social housing sectors. In addition, the Commission will\npromote networking amongst Member States and regions to ensure\nfinancing of best practices in energy efficiency.
\nPriority\nAction 7: a coherent use of taxation. The Commission will prepare a\nGreen Paper on indirect taxation (2007) and will subsequently\nreview the Energy Tax Directive to facilitate a more targeted and\ncoherent use of energy taxation by integrating energy efficiency\nconsiderations and environmental aspects. In addition, the\nCommission will consider in 2007 the costs and benefits of using\ntax credits as incentives for enterprises, on one hand, to promote\nthe increased production of certified energy-efficient appliances\nand equipment and for consumers, on the other, to promote the\npurchase of such appliances and equipment.
\nPriority\nAction 8: raising energy efficiency awareness. Priority areas,\nbesides improved labelling, will include education and training\nplans and programmes for energy managers in industry and utilities.\nIncluded will also be teaching aids for primary, secondary and\nvocational educational curricula. These will be developed as of\n2007 through Community programmes, by recommendations to Member\nSates and through co-operation with Member State and Community\neducational agencies.
\nPriority\nAction 9: energy efficiency in built-up areas. A \"Covenant of\nMayors\" will be created by the Commission in 2007 bringing together\nin a permanent network the mayors of 20-30 of Europe's largest and\nmost pioneering cities. The aim is to exchange and apply best\npractices thereby improving energy efficiency significantly in the\nurban environment, where local policy decisions and initiatives are\nimportant, including transport.
\nPriority\nAction 10: foster energy efficiency worldwide. In order to promote\nenergy efficiency worldwide, the Commission will take the\ninitiative in 2007 to reach a framework agreement with key external\ntrading partner countries and international organisations. The\nagreement will focus on improving energy efficiency in end-use\nsectors and in energy transformation and will use a large number of\npolicies and measures.
\nThese measures could start\nproducing effects in the next six years, many in the coming three.\nA major mid-term review will take place in 2009 during the\nimplementation of the Action Plan. The Commission stresses\nthat, more than anything,\npolitical will and engagement at national, regional and local level\nare necessary if the objectives here are to be achieved. Therefore,\nit is for the Council and the European Parliament and for national\nand regional policy makers to renew their full commitment and\nestablish a clear and unambiguous mandate to facilitate the\nimplementation of this Action Plan by endorsing it and agreeing on\nthe proposals set forth.
\nThe Committee on\nIndustry, Research and Energy adopted a report drawn up by Fiona\nHALL (ALDE, UK) and welcomed the Commission Communication\nentitled 'Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the\nPotential'. It considered that a target of improving energy\nefficiency by over 20% by 2020, in addition to any improvements due\nto autonomous structural or price effects, was entirely feasible\ntechnically and economically.
\nHowever, Members\nnoted with grave concern that implementation by Member States of\nexisting legislation on energy efficiency was incomplete and behind\nschedule. Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of\nbuildings had been properly transposed by only five Member States.\nImplementation by Member States of Directive 2004/8/EC was late and\nfar from perfect on the international market. Members censured the\nfailure to put in place the number of Commission officials needed\nin order to ensure that both the Action Plan and the energy\nefficiency legislation on which it builds were implemented fully\nand promptly. They went on to deplore the fact that, of 21\nCommission actions scheduled in the Action Plan for completion in\n2007, only three had been fully implemented by 1 September 2007.\nThey also deplored the severe slippage in the timetable for the\nadoption of minimum energy performance standards for priority\nproduct groups.
\nThe Committee\ncensured the failure of many Member State governments to prioritise\nprompt transposition of energy efficiency legislation, despite\nrhetoric about tackling climate change and reducing EU energy\nimports. It called for a frank assessment of the capacity\nshortfalls and other barriers which had led to inadequate\nimplementation of energy efficiency legislation. There was also a\nwidespread lack of simple information on energy efficiency at the\npoint of need, which might arise suddenly (e.g. when a domestic\nappliance or other equipment breaks down) or be connected with\nparticular events (e.g. moving house). A lack of attention to the\npractical needs of citizens was undermining many energy efficiency\nschemes. ICTs should be promoted as a key element in driving\nforward energy saving in various sectors such as transport,\nconstruction, energy and manufacturing.
\nEquipment and\nappliances: the Committee welcomed the strategy of adopting\nminimum energy performance standards and called on the Commission\nto establish them by 2008 for air conditioning and all types of\ntelevision set top boxes. Members particularly asked the Commission\nfor the following:
\n-to explore ways of\nadvancing research into LED lamps and of increasing their use;
\n-to establish\ntimetables for the withdrawal from the market of all the least\nenergy-efficient items of equipment, appliances and other\nenergy-using products, such as patio heaters;
\n-to come forward\nwith a 'one watt' stand-by performance requirement and an analysis\nof the potential energy savings to be made from both minimising and\neliminating non-essential stand-by mode consumption, particularly\npassive stand-by;
\nBuilding\nperformance requirements: the Committee urged the Commission to\nexpedite infringement procedures against those Member States which\nhad not properly transposed or implemented Directive 2001/91/EC. It\ncalled on the Commission to revise Directive 2002/91/EC so as to\ninclude from 2009 all buildings requiring heating or cooling,\nregardless of their size, and also to do the following:
\n-to have regard to\nthe fact that cogeneration (micro combined heat and power) boilers\nare by far the most efficient, and to set minimum performance\nrequirements for boilers accordingly;
\n-to propose a\nbinding requirement that all new buildings needing to be heated\nand/or cooled be constructed to passive house or equivalent\nnon-residential standards from 2011, and a requirement to use\npassive heating and cooling solutions from 2008;
\n-to consider the\ngradual introduction of district heating and cooling grids for all\nbuildings to reduce fossil fuel use in heating and cooling by\nutilising the losses occurring in the transformation of energy;
\n-to consider\narchitectural solutions for passive heating and cooling, such as\nconstruction structures with thermal properties, when considering\ntaxation and other measures for promoting energy efficiency;
\n-to promote\ndistrict cooling from renewable sources of energy as an efficient\nalternative to meeting the growing demand for comfort cooling;
\n-to create a\ntransparent database of measures promoting energy efficiency in\nbuildings, in particular financing measures, in the interests of\nexchanging best practice and of public information.
\nPower generation\nand distribution: NEEAPs must include an increase in\nhigh-efficiency cogeneration. Member States were asked to move to\nthe holistic planning and fostering of electricity, heating and\ncooling supply, and more generally to promote measures to encourage\nthe use of small-scale and micro cogeneration. The Commission must\nlook unfavourably on NEEAPs which fail to do this. The Committee\nasked the Commission to pay greater attention to the heat market,\nas heat represented the largest share of energy consumption, and to\ninstruments (urban planning, heat mapping, investment incentives)\nthat would allow the recovery of surplus heat from renewable\nsources through the development of district heating and cooling\ninfrastructures. It also asked the Commission to extend the scope\nof existing financial incentives to developments which enable\nenergy produced from renewable sources to be fed into existing\nnetworks set up for fossil fuel energy.
\nTransport:\nthe Committee called on the Commission to set minimum energy\nperformance requirements for all transport modes, including public\ntransport. The Commission was asked to launch an initiative\nspecifically concerning urban transport and the issue of\nintegrating climate protection, energy saving and public health in\na sustainable mobility policy for towns and cities. EU cities were\nurged to consider measures to reduce the CO2 emissions, for example\nby congestion charges. Furthermore, the Committee called for\nDirective 1999/94/EC to be amended in such a way as to provide for\ncar labelling on the clear A to G format used in appliance\nlabelling. A minimum of 20% of any space devoted to the advertising\nand marketing of new cars should provide information on fuel\nefficiency and emissions. The Commission was asked to devise a\nframework strategy to facilitate substantive improvements to the\nefficiency of urban and suburban public transport.
\nFinancial\narrangements and regional policy: the report called on the\nCommission to raise from 3% to a minimum of 5% the proportion of\nstructural and cohesion funding which should be spent on improving\nthe energy efficiency of existing homes. It regretted the\ncomplexity of much EU financing for energy efficiency, noting that\nthe lack of simple and accessible funding constituted a huge\nbarrier for SMEs. The Committee urged all relevant parties to take\nadvantage of the funding available under the Seventh Framework\nProgramme, the Structural Funds and the Competitiveness and\nInnovation Framework Programme/Intelligent Energy Europe, and urged\nthe Commission to respond generously to calls for funding for\nresearch into energy efficiency. The Commission was also asked to\nsupport state aid rules that were more favourable to energy\nefficiency measures (such as eco-innovation and productivity\nimprovements).
\nTaxation:\nthe Council was asked to encourage the Member States to apply a\nreduced rate of value added tax on labour, materials and components\nwhich improve energy efficiency in buildings. It was also asked to\nensure that the overall tax system reflected the aim of improving\nenergy efficiency in buildings. The report noted that taxation fell\nwithin the competence of Member States, and that taxation measures\nchosen by Member States might be an element of all NEEAPs. It\nadvocated internalisation of environmental costs. Member States\nwere asked to introduce incentives to encourage households,\nmicro-businesses and private landlords to pursue energy-efficiency\nmeasures and buy energy-efficient products. Tax incentives could,\nin certain circumstances, be available for the demolition of\nenergy-inefficient buildings, when combined with the construction\nof new energy-efficient new buildings.
\nChanging\nbehaviour: the Committee called on the Commission to increase\nresearch into behavioural economics and human decision-making so as\nto help tailor future energy-efficiency information campaigns (such\nas the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign). Since energy efficiency\nstarted at home, the committee called on the Commission, the\nCouncil and Parliament to take the lead by requiring exemplary\nenergy performance standards to be set for all EU institution\nbuildings, as part of a wider audit of energy use by the\ninstitutions which should embrace working and travel arrangements,\nincentives and locations, as well as equipment and procurement. It\nalso called on the Commission and the Member States to organise, on\nan annual basis, a European Action Day on Energy Efficiency.
\nThe global\ndimension: Member States and the Commission must enhance\ninternational cooperation in the energy-efficiency field so as to\nensure that new regulations did not fragment the global market. It\nacknowledged the ongoing work at technical level on shared\nenergy-efficiency standards, particularly with China, but was\nconcerned that this work was undermined by the lack of coordination\nbetween Member States. Lastly, it noted the widespread concern that\nRussia would not be able to meet its domestic and contractual gas\ndemand, and urged the Commission to commit greater resources to the\nEU-Russia Energy Efficiency Dialogue, with particular\nattention being paid to the upgrading of Russian district heating\nnetworks and to the utilisation of gas currently flared on oil\nfields.
\nThe European\nParliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report\ndrafted by Fiona HALL (ALDE, UK) and welcomed the Commission\nCommunication entitled 'Action Plan for Energy Efficiency:\nRealising the Potential'. The resolution was adopted by 592 votes\nfor, 26 against, and 30 abstentions. Parliament considered that a\ntarget of improving energy efficiency by over 20% by 2020, in\naddition to any improvements due to autonomous structural or price\neffects, was entirely feasible technically and economically.\n
\nHowever, Members\nnoted with grave concern that implementation by Member States of\nexisting legislation on energy efficiency was incomplete and behind\nschedule. Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of\nbuildings had been properly transposed by only five Member States.\nImplementation by Member States of Directive 2004/8/EC was late and\nfar from perfect on the international market. Members censured the\nfailure to put in place the number of Commission officials needed\nin order to ensure that both the Action Plan and the energy\nefficiency legislation on which it builds were implemented fully\nand promptly. They went on to deplore the fact that, of 21\nCommission actions scheduled in the Action Plan for completion in\n2007, only three had been fully implemented by 1 September 2007.\nThey also deplored the severe slippage in the timetable for the\nadoption of minimum energy performance standards for priority\nproduct groups.
\nParliament censured\nthe failure of many Member State governments to prioritise prompt\ntransposition of energy efficiency legislation, despite rhetoric\nabout tackling climate change and reducing EU energy imports. It\ncalled for a frank assessment of the capacity shortfalls and other\nbarriers which had led to inadequate implementation of energy\nefficiency legislation. There was also a widespread lack of simple\ninformation on energy efficiency at the point of need, which might\narise suddenly (e.g. when a domestic appliance or other equipment\nbreaks down) or be connected with particular events (e.g. moving\nhouse). A lack of attention to the practical needs of citizens was\nundermining many energy efficiency schemes. ICTs should be promoted\nas a key element in driving forward energy saving in various\nsectors such as transport, construction, energy and\nmanufacturing.
\nEquipment and\nappliances: Parliament welcomed the strategy of adopting\nminimum energy performance standards and called on the Commission\nto establish them by 2008 for air conditioning and all types of\ntelevision set top boxes. Members particularly asked the Commission\nfor the following:
\n-to explore ways of\nadvancing research into LED lamps and of increasing their use;
\n-to establish\ntimetables for the withdrawal from the market of all the least\nenergy-efficient items of equipment, appliances and other\nenergy-using products, such as patio heaters;
\n-to come forward\nwith a 'one watt' stand-by performance requirement and an analysis\nof the potential energy savings to be made from both minimising and\neliminating non-essential stand-by mode consumption, particularly\npassive stand-by;
\nBuilding\nperformance requirements: Parliament urged the Commission to\nexpedite infringement procedures against those Member States which\nhad not properly transposed or implemented Directive 2001/91/EC. It\ncalled on the Commission to revise Directive 2002/91/EC so as to\ninclude from 2009 all buildings requiring heating or cooling,\nregardless of their size, and also to do the following:
\n-to have regard to\nthe fact that cogeneration (micro combined heat and power) boilers\nare by far the most efficient, and to set minimum performance\nrequirements for boilers accordingly;
\n-to propose a\nbinding requirement that all new buildings needing to be heated\nand/or cooled be constructed to passive house or equivalent\nnon-residential standards from 2011, and a requirement to use\npassive heating and cooling solutions from 2008;
\n-to consider the\ngradual introduction of district heating and cooling grids for all\nbuildings to reduce fossil fuel use in heating and cooling by\nutilising the losses occurring in the transformation of energy;
\n-to consider\narchitectural solutions for passive heating and cooling, such as\nconstruction structures with thermal properties, when considering\ntaxation and other measures for promoting energy efficiency;
\n-to promote\ndistrict cooling from renewable sources of energy as an efficient\nalternative to meeting the growing demand for comfort cooling;
\n-to create a\ntransparent database of measures promoting energy efficiency in\nbuildings, in particular financing measures, in the interests of\nexchanging best practice and of public information.
\nPower generation\nand distribution: NEEAPs must include an increase in\nhigh-efficiency cogeneration. Member States were asked to move to\nthe holistic planning and fostering of electricity, heating and\ncooling supply, and more generally to promote measures to encourage\nthe use of small-scale and micro cogeneration. The Commission must\nlook unfavourably on NEEAPs which fail to do this. Parliament asked\nthe Commission to pay greater attention to the heat market, as heat\nrepresented the largest share of energy consumption, and to\ninstruments (urban planning, heat mapping, investment incentives)\nthat would allow the recovery of surplus heat from renewable\nsources through the development of district heating and cooling\ninfrastructures. It also asked the Commission to extend the scope\nof existing financial incentives to developments which enable\nenergy produced from renewable sources to be fed into existing\nnetworks set up for fossil fuel energy.
\nTransport:\nParliament called on the Commission to set minimum energy\nperformance requirements for all transport modes, including public\ntransport. The Commission was asked to launch an initiative\nspecifically concerning urban transport and the issue of\nintegrating climate protection, energy saving and public health in\na sustainable mobility policy for towns and cities. EU cities were\nurged to consider measures to reduce the CO2 emissions, for example\nby congestion charges. Furthermore, Parliament called for Directive\n1999/94/EC to be amended in such a way as to provide for car\nlabelling on the clear A to G format used in appliance labelling. A\nminimum of 20% of any space devoted to the advertising and\nmarketing of new cars should provide information on fuel efficiency\nand emissions. The Commission was asked to devise a framework\nstrategy to facilitate substantive improvements to the efficiency\nof urban and suburban public transport.
\nFinancial\narrangements and regional policy: Members called on the\nCommission to raise from 3% to a minimum of 5% the proportion of\nstructural and cohesion funding which should be spent on improving\nthe energy efficiency of existing homes. It regretted the\ncomplexity of much EU financing for energy efficiency, noting that\nthe lack of simple and accessible funding constituted a huge\nbarrier for small and micro businesses. Parliament urged all\nrelevant parties to take advantage of the funding available under\nthe Seventh Framework Programme, the Structural Funds and the\nCompetitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme/Intelligent\nEnergy Europe, and urged the Commission to respond generously to\ncalls for funding for research into energy efficiency. The\nCommission was also asked to support state aid rules that were more\nfavourable to energy efficiency measures (such as eco-innovation\nand productivity improvements).
\nTaxation:\nthe Council was asked to encourage the Member States to apply a\nreduced rate of value added tax on labour, materials and components\nwhich improve energy efficiency in buildings. It was also asked to\nensure that the overall tax system reflected the aim of improving\nenergy efficiency in buildings. The resolution noted that taxation\nfell within the competence of Member States, and that taxation\nmeasures chosen by Member States might be an element of all NEEAPs.\nIt advocated internalisation of environmental costs. Member States\nwere asked to introduce incentives to encourage households,\nmicro-businesses and private landlords to pursue energy-efficiency\nmeasures and buy energy-efficient products. Tax incentives could be\navailable for the demolition of energy-inefficient buildings, when\ncombined with the construction of new energy-efficient new\nbuildings.
\nChanging\nbehaviour: Parliament called on the Commission to increase\nresearch into behavioural economics and human decision-making so as\nto help tailor future energy-efficiency information campaigns (such\nas the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign). Since energy efficiency\nstarted at home, it felt that EU institutions could take the lead\nby requiring exemplary energy performance standards to be set for\nall EU institution buildings, as part of a wider audit of energy\nuse by the institutions which should embrace working and travel\narrangements, incentives and locations, as well as equipment and\nprocurement. It also called on the Commission and the Member States\nto organise, on an annual basis, a European Action Day on Energy\nEfficiency.
\nThe global\ndimension: Member States and the Commission must enhance\ninternational cooperation in the energy-efficiency field so as to\nensure that new regulations did not fragment the global market. It\nacknowledged the ongoing work at technical level on shared\nenergy-efficiency standards, particularly with China, but was\nconcerned that this work was undermined by the lack of coordination\nbetween Member States. Lastly, it noted the widespread concern that\nRussia would not be able to meet its domestic and contractual gas\ndemand, and urged the Commission to commit greater resources to the\nEU-Russia Energy Efficiency Dialogue, with particular\nattention being paid to the upgrading of Russian district heating\nnetworks and to the utilisation of gas currently flared on oil\nfields.
\nPURPOSE: to present a Commission Communication on an\nAction Plan for energy efficiency.
\nCONTENT: This Action Plan outlines a framework of\npolicies and measures with a view to intensifying the process of\nrealising the over 20% estimated savings potential in EU annual\nprimary energy consumption by 2020. The Plan lists a range of\ncost-effective measures, proposing 10 priority actions to be\ninitiated immediately, and others to be initiated gradually over\nthe Plan's six year period. Further action will subsequently be\nrequired to reach the full potential by 2020. Realising the 20%\npotential 2020, equivalent to some 390 Mtoe, will result in large\nenergy and environmental benefits. CO2 emissions should be reduced\nby 780 Mt CO2 with respect to the baseline scenario, more than\ntwice the EU reductions needed under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012.\nAdditional investment expenditure in more efficient and innovative\ntechnologies will be more than compensated by the more than EUR 100\nbillions annual fuel savings.
\nEven though energy efficiency has improved\nconsiderably in recent years, it is still technically and\neconomically feasible to save at least 20% of total primary energy\nby 2020 on top of what would be achieved by price effects and\nstructural changes in the economy, natural replacement of\ntechnology and measures already in place. The largest\ncost-effective savings potential lies in the residential\n(households) and commercial buildings sector (tertiary sector),\nwhere the full potential is now estimated to be around 27% and 30%\nof energy use, respectively. For manufacturing industry, the\noverall potential is estimated to be around 25%, where peripheral\nequipment such as motors, fans and lighting9 offer the most important savings potential. For\ntransport, a similar full savings potential of 26 % is estimated, a\nfigure which includes a significant impact from shifting to other\nmodes of traffic10, in line with\nthe Mid-term review of the White Paper on transport.
\nThe Action Plan highlights key proposals and places\nthem in a political context. These proposals take into account\nrecently adopted legislation on EU and other levels, which has\nalready contributed to making Europe a world leader in energy\nefficiency. The annex contains a comprehensive list of\nmeasures, along with a timetable. The priority actions are as\nfollows:
\nPriority\nAction 1: appliance and equipment labelling and minimum energy\nperformance standards. Updated and dynamic\nlabelling and minimum energy performance standards for appliances\nand other energy-using equipment will be developed as from 2007 on\nthe basis of the Labelling and the Eco-design Directives. Special\nattention will be devoted to standby loss reduction. The Commission\nwill start adopting such requirements for 14 priority product\ngroups with a view to having all of them approved by the end of\n2008. The Commission will revise the Framework Directive 92/75/EC\non labelling to reinforce its effectiveness. The existing labelling\nclassifications will be upgraded.
\nPriority\nAction 2: building performance requirements and very low energy\nbuildings (\"passive houses\"). The Commission will propose\nexpanding the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings\nDirective substantially in 2009, after its complete implementation.\nIt will also propose EU minimum performance requirements for new\nand renovated buildings (kWh/m²). For new buildings, the\nCommission will also develop a strategy for very low energy or\npassive housesin dialogue with Member States\nand key stakeholders towards more wide-spread deployment of these\nhouses by 2015. The Commission will set a good example by leading\nthe way, as far as its own buildings are concerned.
\nPriority\nAction 3: making power generation and distribution more\nefficient. The Commission will develop\nminimum binding efficiency requirements for new electricity,\nheating and cooling capacity lower than 20 MWand consider such\nrequirements for larger production units. It will also develop with\nthe energy supply industry guidelines on good operating practices\nfor existing capacity to raise average generation efficiency for\nall plants and agree guidelines on good regulatory practices to\nreduce transmission and distribution losses. A proposal for a new\nregulatory framework to promote the connection of decentralised\ngeneration will be put forward in 2007.
\nPriority\nAction 4: achieving fuel efficiency of cars. The Commission will,\nif necessary, propose legislation to ensure that the 120 g\nCO2/km target is\nachieved by 2012 through a comprehensive and consistent approach,\nin accordance with the agreed EU objective. In parallel it will\npropose to strengthen EU requirements for labelling of cars. Should\nit become clear that the voluntary commitments of the car industry\nto reach 140 g CO2/km by 2008/2009\nwill not be honoured, the Commission will not hesitate to propose\nlegislation.
\nPriority\nAction 5: facilitating appropriate financing of energy efficiency\ninvestments for SMEs and Energy Service Companies:\nthrough a number of specific\ninitiatives, the Commission will call upon the banking sector to\noffer finance packages specifically aimed at SMEs and Energy\nService Companies to adopt energy efficiency savings identified in\nenergy audits. Access to Community financing, such as Green\nInvestment Funds, co-financed by CIP, will be made available for\npromoting eco-innovations.
\nPriority\nAction 6: spurring energy efficiency in the new Member\nStates. Within the framework of cohesion\npolicy, energy efficiency is one of the priorities. The Commission\nwill encourage European Regional Policy to deploy its national and\nregional programmes to promote more intensive\ninvestmentto improve energy efficiency, in\nparticular in the new Member States, including in the multi-family\nand social housing sectors. In addition, the Commission will\npromote networking amongst Member States and regions to ensure\nfinancing of best practices in energy efficiency.
\nPriority\nAction 7: a coherent use of taxation. The Commission will prepare a\nGreen Paper on indirect taxation (2007) and will subsequently\nreview the Energy Tax Directive to facilitate a more targeted and\ncoherent use of energy taxation by integrating energy efficiency\nconsiderations and environmental aspects. In addition, the\nCommission will consider in 2007 the costs and benefits of using\ntax credits as incentives for enterprises, on one hand, to promote\nthe increased production of certified energy-efficient appliances\nand equipment and for consumers, on the other, to promote the\npurchase of such appliances and equipment.
\nPriority\nAction 8: raising energy efficiency awareness. Priority areas,\nbesides improved labelling, will include education and training\nplans and programmes for energy managers in industry and utilities.\nIncluded will also be teaching aids for primary, secondary and\nvocational educational curricula. These will be developed as of\n2007 through Community programmes, by recommendations to Member\nSates and through co-operation with Member State and Community\neducational agencies.
\nPriority\nAction 9: energy efficiency in built-up areas. A \"Covenant of\nMayors\" will be created by the Commission in 2007 bringing together\nin a permanent network the mayors of 20-30 of Europe's largest and\nmost pioneering cities. The aim is to exchange and apply best\npractices thereby improving energy efficiency significantly in the\nurban environment, where local policy decisions and initiatives are\nimportant, including transport.
\nPriority\nAction 10: foster energy efficiency worldwide. In order to promote\nenergy efficiency worldwide, the Commission will take the\ninitiative in 2007 to reach a framework agreement with key external\ntrading partner countries and international organisations. The\nagreement will focus on improving energy efficiency in end-use\nsectors and in energy transformation and will use a large number of\npolicies and measures.
\nThese measures could start\nproducing effects in the next six years, many in the coming three.\nA major mid-term review will take place in 2009 during the\nimplementation of the Action Plan. The Commission stresses\nthat, more than anything,\npolitical will and engagement at national, regional and local level\nare necessary if the objectives here are to be achieved. Therefore,\nit is for the Council and the European Parliament and for national\nand regional policy makers to renew their full commitment and\nestablish a clear and unambiguous mandate to facilitate the\nimplementation of this Action Plan by endorsing it and agreeing on\nthe proposals set forth.
\nPURPOSE: to present a Commission Communication on an\nAction Plan for energy efficiency.
\nCONTENT: This Action Plan outlines a framework of\npolicies and measures with a view to intensifying the process of\nrealising the over 20% estimated savings potential in EU annual\nprimary energy consumption by 2020. The Plan lists a range of\ncost-effective measures, proposing 10 priority actions to be\ninitiated immediately, and others to be initiated gradually over\nthe Plan's six year period. Further action will subsequently be\nrequired to reach the full potential by 2020. Realising the 20%\npotential 2020, equivalent to some 390 Mtoe, will result in large\nenergy and environmental benefits. CO2 emissions should be reduced\nby 780 Mt CO2 with respect to the baseline scenario, more than\ntwice the EU reductions needed under the Kyoto Protocol by 2012.\nAdditional investment expenditure in more efficient and innovative\ntechnologies will be more than compensated by the more than EUR 100\nbillions annual fuel savings.
\nEven though energy efficiency has improved\nconsiderably in recent years, it is still technically and\neconomically feasible to save at least 20% of total primary energy\nby 2020 on top of what would be achieved by price effects and\nstructural changes in the economy, natural replacement of\ntechnology and measures already in place. The largest\ncost-effective savings potential lies in the residential\n(households) and commercial buildings sector (tertiary sector),\nwhere the full potential is now estimated to be around 27% and 30%\nof energy use, respectively. For manufacturing industry, the\noverall potential is estimated to be around 25%, where peripheral\nequipment such as motors, fans and lighting9 offer the most important savings potential. For\ntransport, a similar full savings potential of 26 % is estimated, a\nfigure which includes a significant impact from shifting to other\nmodes of traffic10, in line with\nthe Mid-term review of the White Paper on transport.
\nThe Action Plan highlights key proposals and places\nthem in a political context. These proposals take into account\nrecently adopted legislation on EU and other levels, which has\nalready contributed to making Europe a world leader in energy\nefficiency. The annex contains a comprehensive list of\nmeasures, along with a timetable. The priority actions are as\nfollows:
\nPriority\nAction 1: appliance and equipment labelling and minimum energy\nperformance standards. Updated and dynamic\nlabelling and minimum energy performance standards for appliances\nand other energy-using equipment will be developed as from 2007 on\nthe basis of the Labelling and the Eco-design Directives. Special\nattention will be devoted to standby loss reduction. The Commission\nwill start adopting such requirements for 14 priority product\ngroups with a view to having all of them approved by the end of\n2008. The Commission will revise the Framework Directive 92/75/EC\non labelling to reinforce its effectiveness. The existing labelling\nclassifications will be upgraded.
\nPriority\nAction 2: building performance requirements and very low energy\nbuildings (\"passive houses\"). The Commission will propose\nexpanding the scope of the Energy Performance of Buildings\nDirective substantially in 2009, after its complete implementation.\nIt will also propose EU minimum performance requirements for new\nand renovated buildings (kWh/m²). For new buildings, the\nCommission will also develop a strategy for very low energy or\npassive housesin dialogue with Member States\nand key stakeholders towards more wide-spread deployment of these\nhouses by 2015. The Commission will set a good example by leading\nthe way, as far as its own buildings are concerned.
\nPriority\nAction 3: making power generation and distribution more\nefficient. The Commission will develop\nminimum binding efficiency requirements for new electricity,\nheating and cooling capacity lower than 20 MWand consider such\nrequirements for larger production units. It will also develop with\nthe energy supply industry guidelines on good operating practices\nfor existing capacity to raise average generation efficiency for\nall plants and agree guidelines on good regulatory practices to\nreduce transmission and distribution losses. A proposal for a new\nregulatory framework to promote the connection of decentralised\ngeneration will be put forward in 2007.
\nPriority\nAction 4: achieving fuel efficiency of cars. The Commission will,\nif necessary, propose legislation to ensure that the 120 g\nCO2/km target is\nachieved by 2012 through a comprehensive and consistent approach,\nin accordance with the agreed EU objective. In parallel it will\npropose to strengthen EU requirements for labelling of cars. Should\nit become clear that the voluntary commitments of the car industry\nto reach 140 g CO2/km by 2008/2009\nwill not be honoured, the Commission will not hesitate to propose\nlegislation.
\nPriority\nAction 5: facilitating appropriate financing of energy efficiency\ninvestments for SMEs and Energy Service Companies:\nthrough a number of specific\ninitiatives, the Commission will call upon the banking sector to\noffer finance packages specifically aimed at SMEs and Energy\nService Companies to adopt energy efficiency savings identified in\nenergy audits. Access to Community financing, such as Green\nInvestment Funds, co-financed by CIP, will be made available for\npromoting eco-innovations.
\nPriority\nAction 6: spurring energy efficiency in the new Member\nStates. Within the framework of cohesion\npolicy, energy efficiency is one of the priorities. The Commission\nwill encourage European Regional Policy to deploy its national and\nregional programmes to promote more intensive\ninvestmentto improve energy efficiency, in\nparticular in the new Member States, including in the multi-family\nand social housing sectors. In addition, the Commission will\npromote networking amongst Member States and regions to ensure\nfinancing of best practices in energy efficiency.
\nPriority\nAction 7: a coherent use of taxation. The Commission will prepare a\nGreen Paper on indirect taxation (2007) and will subsequently\nreview the Energy Tax Directive to facilitate a more targeted and\ncoherent use of energy taxation by integrating energy efficiency\nconsiderations and environmental aspects. In addition, the\nCommission will consider in 2007 the costs and benefits of using\ntax credits as incentives for enterprises, on one hand, to promote\nthe increased production of certified energy-efficient appliances\nand equipment and for consumers, on the other, to promote the\npurchase of such appliances and equipment.
\nPriority\nAction 8: raising energy efficiency awareness. Priority areas,\nbesides improved labelling, will include education and training\nplans and programmes for energy managers in industry and utilities.\nIncluded will also be teaching aids for primary, secondary and\nvocational educational curricula. These will be developed as of\n2007 through Community programmes, by recommendations to Member\nSates and through co-operation with Member State and Community\neducational agencies.
\nPriority\nAction 9: energy efficiency in built-up areas. A \"Covenant of\nMayors\" will be created by the Commission in 2007 bringing together\nin a permanent network the mayors of 20-30 of Europe's largest and\nmost pioneering cities. The aim is to exchange and apply best\npractices thereby improving energy efficiency significantly in the\nurban environment, where local policy decisions and initiatives are\nimportant, including transport.
\nPriority\nAction 10: foster energy efficiency worldwide. In order to promote\nenergy efficiency worldwide, the Commission will take the\ninitiative in 2007 to reach a framework agreement with key external\ntrading partner countries and international organisations. The\nagreement will focus on improving energy efficiency in end-use\nsectors and in energy transformation and will use a large number of\npolicies and measures.
\nThese measures could start\nproducing effects in the next six years, many in the coming three.\nA major mid-term review will take place in 2009 during the\nimplementation of the Action Plan. The Commission stresses\nthat, more than anything,\npolitical will and engagement at national, regional and local level\nare necessary if the objectives here are to be achieved. Therefore,\nit is for the Council and the European Parliament and for national\nand regional policy makers to renew their full commitment and\nestablish a clear and unambiguous mandate to facilitate the\nimplementation of this Action Plan by endorsing it and agreeing on\nthe proposals set forth.
\nThe Committee on\nIndustry, Research and Energy adopted a report drawn up by Fiona\nHALL (ALDE, UK) and welcomed the Commission Communication\nentitled 'Action Plan for Energy Efficiency: Realising the\nPotential'. It considered that a target of improving energy\nefficiency by over 20% by 2020, in addition to any improvements due\nto autonomous structural or price effects, was entirely feasible\ntechnically and economically.
\nHowever, Members\nnoted with grave concern that implementation by Member States of\nexisting legislation on energy efficiency was incomplete and behind\nschedule. Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of\nbuildings had been properly transposed by only five Member States.\nImplementation by Member States of Directive 2004/8/EC was late and\nfar from perfect on the international market. Members censured the\nfailure to put in place the number of Commission officials needed\nin order to ensure that both the Action Plan and the energy\nefficiency legislation on which it builds were implemented fully\nand promptly. They went on to deplore the fact that, of 21\nCommission actions scheduled in the Action Plan for completion in\n2007, only three had been fully implemented by 1 September 2007.\nThey also deplored the severe slippage in the timetable for the\nadoption of minimum energy performance standards for priority\nproduct groups.
\nThe Committee\ncensured the failure of many Member State governments to prioritise\nprompt transposition of energy efficiency legislation, despite\nrhetoric about tackling climate change and reducing EU energy\nimports. It called for a frank assessment of the capacity\nshortfalls and other barriers which had led to inadequate\nimplementation of energy efficiency legislation. There was also a\nwidespread lack of simple information on energy efficiency at the\npoint of need, which might arise suddenly (e.g. when a domestic\nappliance or other equipment breaks down) or be connected with\nparticular events (e.g. moving house). A lack of attention to the\npractical needs of citizens was undermining many energy efficiency\nschemes. ICTs should be promoted as a key element in driving\nforward energy saving in various sectors such as transport,\nconstruction, energy and manufacturing.
\nEquipment and\nappliances: the Committee welcomed the strategy of adopting\nminimum energy performance standards and called on the Commission\nto establish them by 2008 for air conditioning and all types of\ntelevision set top boxes. Members particularly asked the Commission\nfor the following:
\n-to explore ways of\nadvancing research into LED lamps and of increasing their use;
\n-to establish\ntimetables for the withdrawal from the market of all the least\nenergy-efficient items of equipment, appliances and other\nenergy-using products, such as patio heaters;
\n-to come forward\nwith a 'one watt' stand-by performance requirement and an analysis\nof the potential energy savings to be made from both minimising and\neliminating non-essential stand-by mode consumption, particularly\npassive stand-by;
\nBuilding\nperformance requirements: the Committee urged the Commission to\nexpedite infringement procedures against those Member States which\nhad not properly transposed or implemented Directive 2001/91/EC. It\ncalled on the Commission to revise Directive 2002/91/EC so as to\ninclude from 2009 all buildings requiring heating or cooling,\nregardless of their size, and also to do the following:
\n-to have regard to\nthe fact that cogeneration (micro combined heat and power) boilers\nare by far the most efficient, and to set minimum performance\nrequirements for boilers accordingly;
\n-to propose a\nbinding requirement that all new buildings needing to be heated\nand/or cooled be constructed to passive house or equivalent\nnon-residential standards from 2011, and a requirement to use\npassive heating and cooling solutions from 2008;
\n-to consider the\ngradual introduction of district heating and cooling grids for all\nbuildings to reduce fossil fuel use in heating and cooling by\nutilising the losses occurring in the transformation of energy;
\n-to consider\narchitectural solutions for passive heating and cooling, such as\nconstruction structures with thermal properties, when considering\ntaxation and other measures for promoting energy efficiency;
\n-to promote\ndistrict cooling from renewable sources of energy as an efficient\nalternative to meeting the growing demand for comfort cooling;
\n-to create a\ntransparent database of measures promoting energy efficiency in\nbuildings, in particular financing measures, in the interests of\nexchanging best practice and of public information.
\nPower generation\nand distribution: NEEAPs must include an increase in\nhigh-efficiency cogeneration. Member States were asked to move to\nthe holistic planning and fostering of electricity, heating and\ncooling supply, and more generally to promote measures to encourage\nthe use of small-scale and micro cogeneration. The Commission must\nlook unfavourably on NEEAPs which fail to do this. The Committee\nasked the Commission to pay greater attention to the heat market,\nas heat represented the largest share of energy consumption, and to\ninstruments (urban planning, heat mapping, investment incentives)\nthat would allow the recovery of surplus heat from renewable\nsources through the development of district heating and cooling\ninfrastructures. It also asked the Commission to extend the scope\nof existing financial incentives to developments which enable\nenergy produced from renewable sources to be fed into existing\nnetworks set up for fossil fuel energy.
\nTransport:\nthe Committee called on the Commission to set minimum energy\nperformance requirements for all transport modes, including public\ntransport. The Commission was asked to launch an initiative\nspecifically concerning urban transport and the issue of\nintegrating climate protection, energy saving and public health in\na sustainable mobility policy for towns and cities. EU cities were\nurged to consider measures to reduce the CO2 emissions, for example\nby congestion charges. Furthermore, the Committee called for\nDirective 1999/94/EC to be amended in such a way as to provide for\ncar labelling on the clear A to G format used in appliance\nlabelling. A minimum of 20% of any space devoted to the advertising\nand marketing of new cars should provide information on fuel\nefficiency and emissions. The Commission was asked to devise a\nframework strategy to facilitate substantive improvements to the\nefficiency of urban and suburban public transport.
\nFinancial\narrangements and regional policy: the report called on the\nCommission to raise from 3% to a minimum of 5% the proportion of\nstructural and cohesion funding which should be spent on improving\nthe energy efficiency of existing homes. It regretted the\ncomplexity of much EU financing for energy efficiency, noting that\nthe lack of simple and accessible funding constituted a huge\nbarrier for SMEs. The Committee urged all relevant parties to take\nadvantage of the funding available under the Seventh Framework\nProgramme, the Structural Funds and the Competitiveness and\nInnovation Framework Programme/Intelligent Energy Europe, and urged\nthe Commission to respond generously to calls for funding for\nresearch into energy efficiency. The Commission was also asked to\nsupport state aid rules that were more favourable to energy\nefficiency measures (such as eco-innovation and productivity\nimprovements).
\nTaxation:\nthe Council was asked to encourage the Member States to apply a\nreduced rate of value added tax on labour, materials and components\nwhich improve energy efficiency in buildings. It was also asked to\nensure that the overall tax system reflected the aim of improving\nenergy efficiency in buildings. The report noted that taxation fell\nwithin the competence of Member States, and that taxation measures\nchosen by Member States might be an element of all NEEAPs. It\nadvocated internalisation of environmental costs. Member States\nwere asked to introduce incentives to encourage households,\nmicro-businesses and private landlords to pursue energy-efficiency\nmeasures and buy energy-efficient products. Tax incentives could,\nin certain circumstances, be available for the demolition of\nenergy-inefficient buildings, when combined with the construction\nof new energy-efficient new buildings.
\nChanging\nbehaviour: the Committee called on the Commission to increase\nresearch into behavioural economics and human decision-making so as\nto help tailor future energy-efficiency information campaigns (such\nas the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign). Since energy efficiency\nstarted at home, the committee called on the Commission, the\nCouncil and Parliament to take the lead by requiring exemplary\nenergy performance standards to be set for all EU institution\nbuildings, as part of a wider audit of energy use by the\ninstitutions which should embrace working and travel arrangements,\nincentives and locations, as well as equipment and procurement. It\nalso called on the Commission and the Member States to organise, on\nan annual basis, a European Action Day on Energy Efficiency.
\nThe global\ndimension: Member States and the Commission must enhance\ninternational cooperation in the energy-efficiency field so as to\nensure that new regulations did not fragment the global market. It\nacknowledged the ongoing work at technical level on shared\nenergy-efficiency standards, particularly with China, but was\nconcerned that this work was undermined by the lack of coordination\nbetween Member States. Lastly, it noted the widespread concern that\nRussia would not be able to meet its domestic and contractual gas\ndemand, and urged the Commission to commit greater resources to the\nEU-Russia Energy Efficiency Dialogue, with particular\nattention being paid to the upgrading of Russian district heating\nnetworks and to the utilisation of gas currently flared on oil\nfields.
\nThe European\nParliament adopted a resolution based on the own-initiative report\ndrafted by Fiona HALL (ALDE, UK) and welcomed the Commission\nCommunication entitled 'Action Plan for Energy Efficiency:\nRealising the Potential'. The resolution was adopted by 592 votes\nfor, 26 against, and 30 abstentions. Parliament considered that a\ntarget of improving energy efficiency by over 20% by 2020, in\naddition to any improvements due to autonomous structural or price\neffects, was entirely feasible technically and economically.\n
\nHowever, Members\nnoted with grave concern that implementation by Member States of\nexisting legislation on energy efficiency was incomplete and behind\nschedule. Directive 2002/91/EC on the energy performance of\nbuildings had been properly transposed by only five Member States.\nImplementation by Member States of Directive 2004/8/EC was late and\nfar from perfect on the international market. Members censured the\nfailure to put in place the number of Commission officials needed\nin order to ensure that both the Action Plan and the energy\nefficiency legislation on which it builds were implemented fully\nand promptly. They went on to deplore the fact that, of 21\nCommission actions scheduled in the Action Plan for completion in\n2007, only three had been fully implemented by 1 September 2007.\nThey also deplored the severe slippage in the timetable for the\nadoption of minimum energy performance standards for priority\nproduct groups.
\nParliament censured\nthe failure of many Member State governments to prioritise prompt\ntransposition of energy efficiency legislation, despite rhetoric\nabout tackling climate change and reducing EU energy imports. It\ncalled for a frank assessment of the capacity shortfalls and other\nbarriers which had led to inadequate implementation of energy\nefficiency legislation. There was also a widespread lack of simple\ninformation on energy efficiency at the point of need, which might\narise suddenly (e.g. when a domestic appliance or other equipment\nbreaks down) or be connected with particular events (e.g. moving\nhouse). A lack of attention to the practical needs of citizens was\nundermining many energy efficiency schemes. ICTs should be promoted\nas a key element in driving forward energy saving in various\nsectors such as transport, construction, energy and\nmanufacturing.
\nEquipment and\nappliances: Parliament welcomed the strategy of adopting\nminimum energy performance standards and called on the Commission\nto establish them by 2008 for air conditioning and all types of\ntelevision set top boxes. Members particularly asked the Commission\nfor the following:
\n-to explore ways of\nadvancing research into LED lamps and of increasing their use;
\n-to establish\ntimetables for the withdrawal from the market of all the least\nenergy-efficient items of equipment, appliances and other\nenergy-using products, such as patio heaters;
\n-to come forward\nwith a 'one watt' stand-by performance requirement and an analysis\nof the potential energy savings to be made from both minimising and\neliminating non-essential stand-by mode consumption, particularly\npassive stand-by;
\nBuilding\nperformance requirements: Parliament urged the Commission to\nexpedite infringement procedures against those Member States which\nhad not properly transposed or implemented Directive 2001/91/EC. It\ncalled on the Commission to revise Directive 2002/91/EC so as to\ninclude from 2009 all buildings requiring heating or cooling,\nregardless of their size, and also to do the following:
\n-to have regard to\nthe fact that cogeneration (micro combined heat and power) boilers\nare by far the most efficient, and to set minimum performance\nrequirements for boilers accordingly;
\n-to propose a\nbinding requirement that all new buildings needing to be heated\nand/or cooled be constructed to passive house or equivalent\nnon-residential standards from 2011, and a requirement to use\npassive heating and cooling solutions from 2008;
\n-to consider the\ngradual introduction of district heating and cooling grids for all\nbuildings to reduce fossil fuel use in heating and cooling by\nutilising the losses occurring in the transformation of energy;
\n-to consider\narchitectural solutions for passive heating and cooling, such as\nconstruction structures with thermal properties, when considering\ntaxation and other measures for promoting energy efficiency;
\n-to promote\ndistrict cooling from renewable sources of energy as an efficient\nalternative to meeting the growing demand for comfort cooling;
\n-to create a\ntransparent database of measures promoting energy efficiency in\nbuildings, in particular financing measures, in the interests of\nexchanging best practice and of public information.
\nPower generation\nand distribution: NEEAPs must include an increase in\nhigh-efficiency cogeneration. Member States were asked to move to\nthe holistic planning and fostering of electricity, heating and\ncooling supply, and more generally to promote measures to encourage\nthe use of small-scale and micro cogeneration. The Commission must\nlook unfavourably on NEEAPs which fail to do this. Parliament asked\nthe Commission to pay greater attention to the heat market, as heat\nrepresented the largest share of energy consumption, and to\ninstruments (urban planning, heat mapping, investment incentives)\nthat would allow the recovery of surplus heat from renewable\nsources through the development of district heating and cooling\ninfrastructures. It also asked the Commission to extend the scope\nof existing financial incentives to developments which enable\nenergy produced from renewable sources to be fed into existing\nnetworks set up for fossil fuel energy.
\nTransport:\nParliament called on the Commission to set minimum energy\nperformance requirements for all transport modes, including public\ntransport. The Commission was asked to launch an initiative\nspecifically concerning urban transport and the issue of\nintegrating climate protection, energy saving and public health in\na sustainable mobility policy for towns and cities. EU cities were\nurged to consider measures to reduce the CO2 emissions, for example\nby congestion charges. Furthermore, Parliament called for Directive\n1999/94/EC to be amended in such a way as to provide for car\nlabelling on the clear A to G format used in appliance labelling. A\nminimum of 20% of any space devoted to the advertising and\nmarketing of new cars should provide information on fuel efficiency\nand emissions. The Commission was asked to devise a framework\nstrategy to facilitate substantive improvements to the efficiency\nof urban and suburban public transport.
\nFinancial\narrangements and regional policy: Members called on the\nCommission to raise from 3% to a minimum of 5% the proportion of\nstructural and cohesion funding which should be spent on improving\nthe energy efficiency of existing homes. It regretted the\ncomplexity of much EU financing for energy efficiency, noting that\nthe lack of simple and accessible funding constituted a huge\nbarrier for small and micro businesses. Parliament urged all\nrelevant parties to take advantage of the funding available under\nthe Seventh Framework Programme, the Structural Funds and the\nCompetitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme/Intelligent\nEnergy Europe, and urged the Commission to respond generously to\ncalls for funding for research into energy efficiency. The\nCommission was also asked to support state aid rules that were more\nfavourable to energy efficiency measures (such as eco-innovation\nand productivity improvements).
\nTaxation:\nthe Council was asked to encourage the Member States to apply a\nreduced rate of value added tax on labour, materials and components\nwhich improve energy efficiency in buildings. It was also asked to\nensure that the overall tax system reflected the aim of improving\nenergy efficiency in buildings. The resolution noted that taxation\nfell within the competence of Member States, and that taxation\nmeasures chosen by Member States might be an element of all NEEAPs.\nIt advocated internalisation of environmental costs. Member States\nwere asked to introduce incentives to encourage households,\nmicro-businesses and private landlords to pursue energy-efficiency\nmeasures and buy energy-efficient products. Tax incentives could be\navailable for the demolition of energy-inefficient buildings, when\ncombined with the construction of new energy-efficient new\nbuildings.
\nChanging\nbehaviour: Parliament called on the Commission to increase\nresearch into behavioural economics and human decision-making so as\nto help tailor future energy-efficiency information campaigns (such\nas the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign). Since energy efficiency\nstarted at home, it felt that EU institutions could take the lead\nby requiring exemplary energy performance standards to be set for\nall EU institution buildings, as part of a wider audit of energy\nuse by the institutions which should embrace working and travel\narrangements, incentives and locations, as well as equipment and\nprocurement. It also called on the Commission and the Member States\nto organise, on an annual basis, a European Action Day on Energy\nEfficiency.
\nThe global\ndimension: Member States and the Commission must enhance\ninternational cooperation in the energy-efficiency field so as to\nensure that new regulations did not fragment the global market. It\nacknowledged the ongoing work at technical level on shared\nenergy-efficiency standards, particularly with China, but was\nconcerned that this work was undermined by the lack of coordination\nbetween Member States. Lastly, it noted the widespread concern that\nRussia would not be able to meet its domestic and contractual gas\ndemand, and urged the Commission to commit greater resources to the\nEU-Russia Energy Efficiency Dialogue, with particular\nattention being paid to the upgrading of Russian district heating\nnetworks and to the utilisation of gas currently flared on oil\nfields.
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