Energy Efficiency

The cheapest form of energy is the one that we do not use. For this reason, improving the EU’s energy efficiency would result not just in lower energy consumption, and thereby decreased CO2 emissions, but also in a better security of supply. Energy efficiency improvement may also lead to energy savings for companies and individuals, as the investments required for such initiatives as building renovation and energy-efficient devices often are less than the aggregate savings in energy expenses. In addition, a strengthening of energy efficiency efforts has the added advantage that it is difficult to outsource jobs within industries such as construction to non-EU countries.

During the last three decades in Denmark, we have achieved great results through energy efficiency measures. This means that we have been able to maintain energy consumption more or less at the same level while the economy has continued to grow. Many areas in which Denmark has been using for years, such as power planted heat and construction, could also be of benefit to other European countries. Concurrently, common EU requirements for energy labelling and maximum energy consumption levels for products, result in a further increase in energy efficiency levels in Denmark, at no cost to the consumer. Common EU requirements are therefore a boon to the many Danish companies who are market leaders in terms of developing energy-efficient products.

The EU has set a target to improve its energy efficiency level by 20% by 2020 based on expected energy consumption development. In order to ensure that the EU reaches its target, the European Commission produced an energy efficiency plan in the spring of 2011, followed by proposals for specific legislation initiatives mid-2011. Denmark wants an ambitious energy efficiency plan so that the EU gets on track to achieving its 20% energy efficiency improvement target, which, contrary to the other climate and energy targets, is not legally binding.