“Reduction by approximately 13% of its own energy consumption over the present level, with a saving of 100 billion Euros and some 780 million tons of carbon dioxide per year”. That’s the declared objective of the new Action Plan for Energy Efficiency, to remain in force till 2013. It contains some eighty measures aimed at guaranteeing “efficiency of sources and cost effectiveness”. The priority measures are aimed at reducing the energy wastage of household electrical goods (fridges, air conditioners, pumps, industrial ventilators), buildings (incentives for so-called “passive houses” with very low energy consumption, minimum energy standards for new and refurbished buildings), transport (development of low consumption and/or less polluting cars, improvement of road, railway, air and maritime systems) and production plants (reduction of losses at the level of generation, transmission and distribution). Lastly, the Action Plan invites EU governments to implement a “policy of fair and predictable prices” and organise together with EU institutions actions aimed at raising the awareness of citizens.
