BusinessEurope views on the review of the energy efficiency directive
- Being energy efficient is in the DNA of European entrepreneurs. Industry has been at the forefront of efforts in the EU to enhance energy efficiency. To continue on this path, it requires a well-designed and coherent policy, which incentivises cost-effective actions.
- The overall level of ambition for energy efficiency should remain consistent with the post-2020 energy and climate framework agreed by EU leaders in 2014 and confirmed this year.
- Further progress must be achieved at the lowest cost. Therefore, it is important to look into sectors which have the most cost-effective efficiency gains, such as the building sector, in particular the existing buildings stock.
- Industry should not be covered by an absolute reduction target of energy consumption. This would give the wrong incentive to ‘produce less’ rather than ‘be more efficient’.
- First experiences from implementation of the energy efficiency directive show that some improvements are possible. In particular, under Article 7 more flexibility to choose the right instrument at national level will guarantee the most efficient solution, as well as the energy audits (Article 8) to be improved by reducing administrative burden and harmonising definitions.
- The financing of energy efficiency needs to be scaled up. In order to have the largest impact, financing schemes should respect some basic principles and rules.