EU directives
In 1997, the signatories to the Climate Convention held a conference in Kyoto (Japan). The purpose of this conference was to come to an agreement that would commit the industrialized world to restrict the emission of greenhouse gases, the prime cause of global warming. The agreement (Kyoto Protocol) came into force in 2005 and will remain valid until 2012. It defines binding targets for the emission of greenhouse gases. In the Kyoto Protocol, the EU has committed itself to reduce its emissions by eight percent during the period from 2008 to 2012 compared to the level in 1990. To achieve this objective the EU member states have each committed themselves to national climate protection targets.
The European Climate Change Program ECCP has thus defined potential energy savings (in tons of carbon dioxide) for certain product areas. For example, annual potential energy savings of 24 million tons of CO2 (at that time: Europe 15) have been identified in the private and tertiary sector. In terms of potential energy savings, lighting is in third place behind electrical drive systems and office equipment with potential savings of 39 and 34 million tons of CO2.
The EU has already taken several measures to improve energy savings:
2002: Performance of Buildings Directive (EBPD)
2005: Eco-design directive for improving the energy savings of household appliances (refrigerators, hair dryers, lamps etc.) (EuP)
2006: Directive on energy efficiency and energy services for energy savings in the distribution and sale of electricity and gas, and other energy sources such as district heating and fuels for private households, traffic and other industrial consumers (ESD)
Further measures: Energy efficiency requirements for boilers and refrigerators; labeling regulations for ovens, refrigerators, air-conditioning units; labeling of office equipment; directive on taxation of energy products and electrical power.
The energy and climate package of the EU
The package of measures submitted by the Commission on January 10, 2007, aims to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases by 20% by the year 2020. The objective is to reduce Europe’s dependency on imported oil and gas and cut energy costs by around 100 billion euros per year. This plan could prevent 780 million tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere, a figure that is twice as high as the target for the EU defined in the Kyoto Protocol.