Although efforts are increasing to improve energy efficiency in order to reduce CO2 emissions linked to global warming, economic growth in the EU is increasingly energy-intensive, according to a new study by the Commission.
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) has produced a study showing that, between 1999 and 2004, EU-wide electricity consumption rose in-step with GDP growth, largely offsetting any energy-efficiency improvements made during the same period.
Based on a 2006 survey of electricity consumption in buildings and on the market share of energy-efficient appliances, the study cites considerable growth in electricity consumption in all sectors of the economy:
- 10.8% for the residential sector;
- 15.6% in the tertiary (service) sector, and;
- 9.5% in the industrial sector.
According to the Commission, the increase is explained by the widespread use of traditional, and often inefficient, appliances such as tumble driers and air conditioners, as well as "the increased number of double or triple appliances, mainly TVs and refrigerators/freezers in households, and the general increase in single family houses and larger houses and apartments". Increased electricity consumption through the use of appliances is a particularly noticeable trend in Southern Europe (EurActiv.fr 16/07/07).
Another factor is the "increasingly common phenomenon" of the use of the 'stand-by' feature in appliances and electronics. Greenpeace estimates that the use of the stand-by feature led to a loss of 94 billion kilowatt hours in 2000 for EU-15.
The EU has several measures in place to increase the energy efficiency of the economy, including a directive on energy end-use efficiency and energy services and an Energy Efficency Action Plan. The Commission has also welcomed a recent move by the Parliament to improve energy efficiency in public procurement practices for office equipment.
But overall, member states' progress in implementing energy efficiency measures has been slow. So far, only seven of 27 EU member states have submitted their national actional plans (NAPs) (due at the end of June 2007 (EurActiv 04/07/07)) on energy efficiency to the Commission.
Concerning the impact of increasingly energy-intensive economic development on climate change, a new NGO report by Friends of the Earth Europe and the New Economics Foundation states: "On current performance, Europe is not remotely close to navigating an economic course set to reach its desired location on climate policy."