5.3.Legistlative base mandatory for eu Member states

The Commission considers the biggest energy savings are to be made in the following sectors: residential and commercial buildings (tertiary), with savings potentials estimated at 27 % and 30 % respectively, the manufacturing industry, with the potential for a 25 % reduction, and transport, with the potential for a 26 % reduction in energy consumption.

These sectoral reductions of energy consumption correspond to overall savings estimated at 390 million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe) each year or €100 billion per year up to 2020. They would also help reduce CO2 emissions by 780 million tonnes per year.

These potential savings come in addition to an estimated 1.8 % (or 470 Mtoe) reduction in annual consumption which would partly stem from other measures already adopted and normal replacements of material.

Achieving the 20 % reduction objective will help reduce the EU's impact on climate change and dependence on fossil fuel imports. The Action Plan will also boost industrial competitiveness, increase exports of new technologies and will have positive benefits in terms of employment. The savings made will, moreover, offset the investments put into innovative technologies. [http://ec.europa.eu/energy; europa.eu/legislation_summaries/energy/energy_efficiency/l27064_en.htm]

On 25 October 2012, the EU accepted the Directive 2012/27/EU on energy efficiency. This is main directive in the sector. Directive establishes a common framework of measures for the promotion of energy efficiency within the Union in order to ensure the achievement of the Union’s 2020 20 % headline target on energy efficiency and to pave the way for further energy efficiency improvements beyond that date. It lays down rules designed to remove barriers in the energy market and overcome market failures that impede efficiency in the supply and use of energy, and provides for the establishment of indicative national energy efficiency targets for 2020.

The directive article 1 (2) states, that: the European Council emphasised the need to increase energy efficiency in the Union to achieve the objective of saving 20 % of the Union’s primary energy consumption by 2020 compared to projections. The conclusions of the European Council of 4 February 2011 emphasised that the 2020 20 % energy efficiency target as agreed by the June 2010 European Council, which is presently not on track.

Energy efficiency for the 2020 goal was defined by Member States commitment to reduce consumption of primary energy by 20% by 2020. There are still many barriers to the implementation of effective measures. This Communication describes the current position of future projects aiming to reach the ‘20-20-20’ goal. [Communication from the Commission of 13 November 2008 - Energy efficiency: delivering the 20% target [COM(2008) 772 - Not published in the Official Journal].]

Directive article 1 (16) stressed that buildings represent 40 % of the Union’s final energy consumption.

Article 1 (24) highlites energy savings potential in certain market segments where energy audits are generally not offered commercially (such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)), Member States should develop programmes to encourage SMEs to undergo energy audits. Energy audits should be mandatory and regular for large enterprises, as energy savings can be significant. Energy audits should take into account relevant European or International Standards, such as EN ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems), or EN 16247-1 (Energy Audits), or, if including an energy audit, EN ISO 14000 (Environmental Management Systems).

Article 1 (31) seys, that at least 80 % of consumers must be equipped with intelligent metering systems by 2020.

Article 2 (4) ‘energy efficiency’ means the ratio of output of performance, service, goods or energy, to input of energy.

Article 5 (1) Member State obligation to renovate each year 3 % of the total floor area extends to floor area owned and occupied by administrative departments at a level below central government, the 3 % rate shall be calculated on the total floor area of buildings with a total useful floor area over 500 m 2 and, as of 9 July 2015, over 250 m 2.

Article 9 (1) Member States shall ensure that, in so far as it is technically possible, financially reasonable and proportionate in relation to the potential energy savings, final customers for electricity, natural gas, district heating, district cooling and domestic hot water are provided with competitively priced individual meters that accurately reflect the final customer’s actual energy consumption and that provide information on actual time of use.

Chapter III of directive explaines Efficiency aspects in energy supplay in particular Article 15 highlights energy transformation, transmission and distribution aspects.

The document includes cogeneration technology, in the meaning existing Directive on cogeneration [existing Directive on cogeneration]. Cogeneration is a technique allowing the production of both heat and electricity. The heat is in the form of high pressure water vapour or hot water.

According to Article 9 of the directive on the energy performance of buildings: The energy performance of buildings should be calculated on the basis of a methodology, which may be differentiated at national and regional level. That includes, in addition to thermal characteristics, other factors that play an increasingly important role such as heating and air-conditioning installations, application of energy from renewable sources, passive heating and cooling elements, shading, indoor air-quality, adequate natural light and design of the building. The methodology for calculating energy performance should be based not only on the season in which heating is required, but should cover the annual energy performance of a building. That methodology should take into account existing European standards.

The directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services indicates energy saving target of 9 % by 2016. By:

• using of the use of financial instruments for energy savings, such as third-party financing contracts and energy performance contracts;

• the purchase of energy-efficient equipment and vehicles;

• the purchase of low-energy products.

The energy saving on transport as well as electrical drive is kee technological aspects for implementation of the aims of this direcive.

Cogeneration technologies covered by this Directive:

(a) Combined cycle gas turbine with heat recovery

(b) Steam back pressure turbine

(c) Steam condensing extraction turbine

(d) Gas turbine with heat recovery

(e) Internal combustion engine

(f) Microturbines

(g) Stirling engines

(h) Fuel cells

(i) Steam engines

(j) Organic Rankine cycles

(k) Any other type of technology or combination thereof falling under the definition laid down in Article 2(30).

In annex VIII Potential for efficiency in heating and cooling potential heating and cooling supply points, including:

— electricity generation installations with a total annual electricity production of more than 20 GWh, and

— waste incineration plants,

— existing and planned cogeneration installations using technologies referred to in Part II of Annex I, and district heating installations;

An electricity/heat cogeneration plant operates by means of gas turbines or engines. Natural gas is the form of primary energy most commonly used to fuel cogeneration plants. However, renewable energy sources and waste can also be used.

Unlike traditional power stations where exhaust gases are directly evacuated by the chimney, the gases produced by cogeneration are first cooled before being evacuated by the chimney, releasing their energy into a hot water/steam circuit.

The energy demand households accounts for 25% of the final energy needs in the EU. Higher standards of living and comfort, multiple purchases of electric appliances and the growing need for air-conditioning are the main reasons for this trend. Energy consumption by consumer electronics and Internet is also steadily growing. The response is to act in two complementary ways: Energy Labelling of household appliances and Minimum Efficiency Requirements.

On May 19, 2010, the EU adopted the Directive 2010/30/EU on energy labels. Energy labels help consumers to select the products which save energy and thus money. They also provide incentives for the industry to develop and invest in energy efficient product design.

Directive 2010/30/EU of 19 May 2010 on the indication by labelling and standard product information of the consumption of energy and other resources by energy-related products

On October 21, 2009, the EU adopted the Directive 2009/125/EC on ecodesign. Ecodesign aims at reducing the environmental impact of products, including the energy consumption throughout their entire life cycle: Directive 2009/125/EC of 21 October 2009 establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-related products. Ecodesign" means in therms of directive the integration of environmental aspects into product design with the aim of improving the environmental performance of the product throughout its whole life cycle; Directive establishing a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy-using products. Directive promotes a general principle: the energy consumption of energy-related products in stand-by or off-mode should be reduced to the minimum necessary for their proper functioning.

On 1 September 2009, incandescent light bulbs and other energy inefficient lamps started to be gradually replaced by more energy efficient lamps in Europe. By switching to more energy efficient lighting products, European households can save energy and contribute to reaching the EU’s climate protection targets. Directive establishes a framework for the setting of ecodesign requirements for energy using products. Directive on [Energy Effective Lighting (Commission Regulation (EC) No 244/2009 of 18 March 2009 implementing Directive 2005/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to ecodesign requirements for non-directional household lamps] defines