October 23, 2006—As a major step toward meeting the unprecedented energy challenges facing the European Union (EU), the European Commission recently presented its Energy Efficiency Action Plan. The Plan contains a package of priority measures covering a wide range of cost-effective energy efficiency initiatives.
The plan calls for actions to make energy appliances, buildings, transport and energy generation more efficient. It proposes stringent new energy efficiency standards, promotion of energy services, and specific financing mechanisms to support more energy efficient products.
The Commission will furthermore establish a Covenant of Mayors of the 20-30 most pioneering cities in Europe and will propose an international agreement on energy efficiency. Altogether the plan includes more than 75 measures.
The plan emphasizes the considerable potential for reducing losses in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. It targeted instruments to improve the efficiency of both new and existing generation capacity and to reduce transmission and distribution losses.
For further information on the action plan, visit the Web site.
