News on 2 February 2001
The EU is to bring forward proposals for a Directive on
energy use in buildings. The announcement came in a speech by Margot
Wallström, European Commissioner for Environment, to the Energieforum
2001 event in Berlin.
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| Margot Wallström |
The new environment action programme for the EU calls
for a global greenhouse gas emission cut in the order of 20% to 40%
by 2020. Wallström acknowledged that some think this is unrealistic,
considering the difficulties that many countries have in meeting even
their Kyoto targets: “Yet, the scientists have been telling us
for some time that we should reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 70%
in the longer term in order to halt climate change.
“We have to start pointing the energy system in the right direction
now. This means questioning our dependence on the non-renewable resource
of fossil fuel and personally I would add: nuclear - that is the reality
today. It is difficult to see how the present conventional energy system
can ever be compatible with sustainable development. At the same time,
there is hope. Europe has managed in energy what we have not managed
in other areas, that is to de-couple energy use from GDP. Roughly speaking,
we are today not consuming more energy than in the early ‘70s while
GDP has doubled. However, we have also seen how the low energy prices
since the 1980s have again slowed down the progress in energy efficiency.
Can we de-couple energy use from GDP even further?”
Wallström emphasised the importance of exploiting the opportunities
for energy efficiency. The full cost effective energy efficiency potential
in the EU is estimated at 20% of total current energy consumption. The
Commissioner highlighted the building sector accounting for over 40%
of EU energy consumption.
“You will find a huge potential for energy saving and emission
reduction through more efficient insulation, electric motors, lighting,
and materials. If we only assume a normal rate of renovation of existing
buildings and an increasing share of best available technology, a potential
of 22% energy saving is estimated to 2010. This potential could be bigger
if renovations were accelerated and jobs would be created at the same
time.”
