The letter addressed to European Council President, Herman Van Rompuy, and to the Heads of State and Government of the EU member states, presses them to fully address energy savings in the upcoming European Energy Summit in Brussels on the 4 February 2011.
According to the letter, Europe is almost certain to miss its 2020 energy-savings target unless extra effort is made immediately. Energy efficiency therefore needs priority of place on the list of actions open to Europe under the Energy Strategy 2020. The letter underlines how important it is that the Summit itself spurs firm action on energy-saving measures across Europe.
The letter states that a binding commitment to deliver the 20% energy savings target by 2020 is paramount to position the EU as the world leader in the shift to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.
“Representatives from leading industries providing energy efficient products to the European market would like to voice their growing concern regarding Europe’s current energy efficiency and savings policy.
As things stand, Europe is almost certain to miss its 2020 energy efficiency target; recent evidence suggests we will only make it half the distance.
This state of affairs is worrying. At this stage, the most cost effective element of the 20/20/20 targets could turn out to be the one that will not actually be achieved.
We feel that Europe’s energy efficiency policy needs strengthening. Our industries are looking to Europe’s political leaders for strong commitment and action in this field: making the 20% energy savings target a real policy commitment should, in our view, be a top priority.
As a group of industries active in Europe in the energy efficiency sector, we would ask you to consider, as a matter of some urgency, the need to ensure the right regulatory and policy environment to foster energy efficiency. We are ready to assist when it comes to delivering energy savings for Europe. The technology exists; the energy efficiency goal is achievable. Ahead of the 4 February EU Energy Summit, we ask the Council to appreciate that non-deliverance on the 20% energy savings target means missing a crucial opportunity. A binding commitment to deliver the 20% energy savings target would position the EU as the world leader in the shift to a sustainable, resource-efficient economy.
Whilst energy efficiency is about many small steps that help us climb mountains, it is important to stress that this mountain is definitely worth climbing. Achieving the 20% energy efficiency target would save the equivalent of 15 Nabucco pipelines (and related costs). It would thus secure our energy supply. At the same time, adopting this target creates the potential for one million jobs in Europe by 2020. It would also help protect Europe’s citizens from expected increases in energy prices. In short, the policy helps secure the short and long-term sustainability of Europe’s economy.
As the President of the European Council, you have an unprecedented opportunity to ensure that heads of state are convinced of the need for more ambition on energy efficiency. Such ambition will help create an energy and climate-secure Europe.”
Enderson Guimarães, Head of Electrolux Major Appliances Europe, is one of the 36 executives who signed the letter, and his company’s appliances give an example of how much energy can be saved through efficiency improvements. Electrolux best refrigerators today consume 70% less energy than the standard refrigerator 15 years ago. As a result, Electrolux estimates that in only two years, a consumer buying a new efficient refrigerator will save energy equal to the total impact of all the resources used for manufacturing, transport and recycling. “Scrapping old appliances, even those still in function, is good for the environment. If all European consumers replaced their more than ten year old appliances with energy efficient ones, in Europe alone carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by approximately 20 million tons per year,” said the company in a recent press release. That equals 6% of EU’s Kyoto target.
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