Brussels, 14 November – The Energy Efficiency Directive, which was signed by the Parliament and Counil on October 25th was published in the Official Journal of the European Union today, meaning that it will come into effect on December 5th. The States of the Union will have until June 2014 to transpose the Directive into national law.
The Directive requires each State to produce an annual report outlining how they are progressing towards efficiency targets (set out in trienneal national action plans) with the first due in April 2014. Efficiency targets will be based on either primary or final energy consumption, primary or final energy savings, or energy intensity.
The aim of the Directive is to ensure that Europe meets in 2020 goal of improving energy efficiency by 20%. The Commission is expecting the initiative to cut energy use by at least 15% below a business-as-usual scenario, with the potential for another 2% through tougher vehicle emission standards and 3% fom new ecodesign actions.
Measures to be taken include that energy suppliers must deliver an annual 1.5% saving amongst end-users; 3% of central government office space must be renovated; and all companies except SMEs will be subject to quadrennial energy audits from December 2015.
Click to read the Energy Efficiency Directive.