The European Union is seeing increasing energy demand, energy prices and environmental pollution within its member states, the effects of which are becoming more and more visible, as in the case of large cities. For this reason, the EU is becoming more and more strategic with regard to its energy efficiency regulations in Europe, based on security of supply, competitiveness and sustainability. In this way, citizens and companies are guaranteed a secure, affordable and environmentally friendly energy supply.
Energy efficiency regulations focus on the technology, equipment or machinery used, since the efficient use of technology can achieve the same performance or perform the same tasks with less energy. And together with the way people act, with more efficient attitudes, energy savings will be achieved in organizations and companies that will have a positive impact on society as a whole.
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What are energy efficiency standards?
Energy efficiency standards in Europe are those measures that the EU has taken, takes and will take in terms of energy management. The objective of European energy efficiency standards is to achieve a better distribution and quantity of energy resources and supplies that the territory has, achieving not only savings in the consumption of these supplies but also a considerable brake on the progress of environmental wear.
A clear example of these measures are the ISO standards, which guarantee certain international quality standards. We have already talked about them on other occasions, having as a clear example the complete guide to the ISO50001 energy efficiency standard.
Why is Europe now taking action on energy efficiency regulations?
World energy consumption is growing.
Virtually every action in a daily routine involves relying on a device connected to the power supply: cell phones, microwaves, refrigerators, lights, air conditioning or heating, television or computers. Not only the existence and purchase of devices is increasing, but also the hours per day of use of these devices.
Energy costs are increasing.
As we all know and have noticed lately, the price of electricity, gas and other energy costs are only growing. Providing energy to homes, industries and companies is costing more and more, so the EU has taken a step in regulating energy efficiency regulations to try to curb this unstoppable advance.
Reduce energy dependence on foreign markets.
Another of the objectives of these energy efficiency standards is none other than to achieve greater independence of energy supply from external markets. In this respect, the European Union is seeking to move ever closer to a certain degree of energy self-sufficiency in order to escape the fluctuations of external markets.
Curbing climate change.
Of course, halting the advance of climate change is one of the main objectives of this energy regulation. Climate change is already part of the social, political and administrative dialogue of our country and all those that make up the European Union, so many of the measures imposed will have a lot to do with helping to improve this situation.
What are the energy efficiency standards in Europe?
In order to achieve global objectives, a regulatory framework on energy efficiency must be developed so that the agents have references to which to adjust when carrying out their activity. Therefore, these are the main energy efficiency standards in Europe over time:
Treaty of Lisbon
Since 2007, the Lisbon Treaty has placed energy at the center of the European Union's economic activity, seeking to establish the guidelines for an internal energy market, and to improve the environment, so that:
- Ensure the functioning of the energy market.
- Provide security of electricity supply in member countries.
- Promote energy efficiency, energy savings and new forms of renewable energy.
- Strengthen the interconnection between member states.
These energy efficiency standards set the energy roadmap towards 2050, which aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) by 80% to 95% from 1990 levels. This will result in:
- An energy system with lower carbon rates.
- Greater energy efficiency in the processes.
- A clear commitment to renewable energies.
- Investment for the improvement of facilities and services.
- Security of supply. Above all, for the use of renewables.
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Energy Efficiency Directive (2012/27/EU)
The aim of this Directive is to establish a common framework to promote efficiency within the European Union, so that the target of 20% savings by 2020 is certain to be achieved and that these improvements will last and be reinforced by others. All this, through the use of more efficient energy throughout the energy process and to establish a series of European energy efficiency standards such as:
- Establish a national indicative energy efficiency target.
- Allow free access to real-time and historical consumption data.
- Renovation of buildings to reduce consumption.
- Generate energy more efficiently.
Industrial Safety Directive (2009/125/EC)
This European energy efficiency regulation includes everything related to eco-design or ecological design in energy-related products (motors, household appliances, boilers, etc.) and has obliged these products to have energy labeling.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction
For the European Union, one of the priorities is to avoid the dangers of climate change, so efforts are being made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by setting limits on emissions, seeking market stability or establishing support measures.
2020 targets for energy efficiency regulations
- Reduce 20% of greenhouse gas emissions.
- That at least 20% of the energy consumed comes from renewable energy sources.
- Increase energy efficiency by 20%.
2030 targets for energy efficiency regulations
- At least a 40% reduction in harmful gas emissions.
- Consume at least 27% of energy from renewable sources in the global environment.
- Increase energy efficiency by at least 27%.
How will the EU achieve this efficient energy management?
- Establishing maximum limits on emissions.
- Linking these efforts to others in each nation.
- Avoiding "carbon leakage". In this way, the decreases will be real.
- Developing measures to support all of the above.
And for all this, it is necessary to have not only a regulatory framework for energy efficiency but also a tool that allows to know and manage all the data related to energy consumption.
Not only that, but also to establish energy policies in organizations, define objectives, goals and actions to be taken to reduce and optimize consumption, costs and emissions of harmful gases. Our 50001 service will be the tool with which the organization will be able to manage all this following point by point the standard ISO 50001, and can even be certified in it if desired.
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