Building together our energy home
November 24, 2008
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Loading ...Making a policy is like building a house. In 2005, Member States realised that the current European Energy Policy needed an in depth renovation, and called the Commission - normally the architect of European policies - who came up with a project, to make an in depth rebuilding of the European Energy Policy to have our energy house built on solid ground at least until 2020. The plans of this project were the first Strategic Energy Review, adopted by the Commission in January 2007. The new European Energy building was to be founded on three solid pillars: competitiveness, sustainability and security of supply. We established that the works had to be finished by 2020 when we covered the three ceilings of the new building: 20% CO2 reduction, 20% renewable energies, 20% energy efficiency.
Member States approved the project at the Summit of March 2007 and we got to work. We started with a bit of interior work. The internal market had too many partition walls and we need to create an open space. It was important to carry out a bit of demolition, to open doors and corridors, but of course, for that we needed to reinforce some of the existing structures. Those were the main measures for the internal market that we proposed in 2007, which set the conditions for the creation of a truly single market which is essential to the success of the whole construction.
Then we moved on building the structure, or putting concrete around the main pillars. The climate change and renewable energy measures that the Commission adopted in January 2008 will make it possible for us to reach our ceilings, to fulfil our 2020 objectives. In this area, as well, construction works advance well, and we hope to complete the structure by the end of this year.
But last Thursday we presented the work programme for the third pillar of our energy building, the security of supply. For this we presented a five point action plan, that will provide all the habitants of the European building with a feeling of security and comfort, which is essential in any residence. These are in a way the plans to make an energy shelter for all citizens. The action plan has three points. First of all we need to have in place all the infrastructures (cables, pipes, etc,) to provide heat and power to all the corners of our common building. Currently, some parts of our common building are not integrated in the main structure, and are too isolated. We have to break this isolation with the necessary infrastructure and therefore some of the priorities in this area are the Baltic interconnexion plan, the Mediterranean ring, North-South gas and electricity interconnections within Central and South-East Europe, or the North Sea offshore grid. Of course, the internal connexions of the house would be useless if we don’t have our links with energy suppliers. Therefore we have identified the Southern Gas Corridor or the LNG action plan to assure connections to as many suppliers as possible.
These infrastructures have to be in place to create the emergency mechanisms in case of supply crisis. For this we need to have first some reserves in our cellar to use in case of interruption of supply. Our revision of the oil stocks and the communication on security of gas supply, give many ideas of how better use the strategic reserves of oil, and how better help Member States in trouble with our security squads: the Gas Coordination Group and the Oil Supply Group.
Since our energy house is going to be in a global area, we also have included in our security of supply action plan, a strategy to develop good relations with our neighbours. Certainly with the closer ones, like Russia, Norway, Algeria and OPEC, but also to newcomers in our energy neighbourhood like the Caspian and Central Asia countries or Nigeria, and even with far away neighbours like USA, China, India, Brazil or Africa, in order to make common projects in the global village.
As any modern construction, our energy house can produce a large part of our energy needs. Our energy backyard has still some gas, oil and coal left that we should be able to use, and certainly our whole house has a huge potential of renewable energies that we have to exploit fully.
Last but not least, our plan includes a good number of measures to save energy. Energy efficiency cannot be constructed with big blogs. It is a question of putting small bricks, but many of them. In the last few years we have already laid a good number of these bricks. Decisions like the CO2 in cars, the white paper on transport that favours a modal shift to more efficient modes, the Energy Star agreements, the eco-design decisions on standby, industrial and street lightning, energy supply, TV boxes; the Covenant of Majors for energy efficiency… All these are little bricks that are building up the wall that will sustain the 20% energy savings. But the package came with a new load of energy efficiency bricks: the eco-labelling directive, the labelling for tyres, the communication on Combined Heat and Power and, quite handy in this blog entry, the Energy Efficiency in Buildings directive.
A big project, as you see. The construction of the European Energy Policy advances well. Now we need to submit the next phase of the constructions to the Member States to have their views, in order to be able to carry on with the works. You are certainly the inhabitants of this building in the making, and therefore I invite you to enter our web site and take a look at all our proposals. All your comments will be more than welcome. At the end of the day, we are working hard to make it possible for you to feel at home in this European Energy Policy.
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November 24th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
YES-Total for European Energy Policy with Securing our Energy Future and -
1.HEALTH without Greenhouse Gas Emissions! My proposals in http://www.SOSTerra.go.ro and //eficientaenerg.wordpress.com:
-A Legislative Framework Programme necessary on promotion Intelligent Energy Building for Live Earth
-Actions for an Green Week in each Public Future GreenBuilding
-My position at Consultation Document on the revision of the Energy Labelling Directive 92/75/EEC
-Evaluation, Monitoring and Intelligent Metering of Energy Efficiency in Buildings Sector
-My position at consultation process European Charter on the Rights of Energy Consumers
-My position at Public consultation for the coming Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
-Response at Andris Piebalgs for my Legislative Proposal for Lightening
-The Consultation on EU Action to promote Offshore Wind Energy
-The public Debate on introducing a prohibition on the sale of incandescent light bulbs
2.Promotion of Intelligent Energy Building PLAN
.For Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign 2005-2008- Dear Mr.Piebalgs-all for and…2009-2012!???
.Question form regarding the results of your project
.The plan for the promoting of energy efficiency
.Evaluate the impact of your campaign
.Legislation for the use Intelligent Energy in Buildings
.The PLAN for limitation of pollutants emissions
.The Programme for implementation White Certificates Schemes on the increase of Energy Efficiency
.The Action Plan for Energy Efficiency in Europe
My proposal-For more efficient products and energy efficient appliances:
1. The introducing of prohibition on the sale of incandescent light bulbs in the European Union;
2. Energy performance certificate of a building include a CO2 emission indicator;
3. Programme for implementation White Certificates Schemes on the increase of Energy Efficiency - the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation for waste management and decommissioning(harmonisation of regulatory standards);
4.Necessary -nuclear power for the generation of electricity:spreading of Scientific Research through the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform(the existing scientific knowledge) –ensurance of budgets in investments- Supply of nuclear material, equipment and services- Enhancement of national infrastructures(the availability of nuclear fuel and infrastructure).
5. Implantation of the Performant and Clean technologies for energy generation and use sector Energetics total Efficiency and in costs to makes certain for each ,therefore,and total -producer (slack link point of view ),conveyer and final consumer.
In my quality of Deputy in the Romanian Parliament-1992-2004, I initiate Law no. 199/2000 regarding the energy efficient use and the reinforcing use of energy labelling through the revision of the Energy Directives…in1990;1995;2000,2005,etc-work!,is necessary:That promotion initiative Legislation Energy efficiency also encourages citizens to use energy in the most rational manner possible and contribute to the fight against climate change,equivalent S.O.S Live Earth !.
December 3rd, 2008 at 1:15 am
In your note you’re talking about the “Covenant of the Majors” about energy efficiency. Alessandria, Italy took part in this program but nowadays what was done to get energy saving in street lighting does not comply at all with goals, as clearly stated in last November 8 “Energy Day” in the framework of PRACTISE project. Not only public lighting is steadily increased and I have measurements and calculations to demostrate how EN 13201 requirements are largely exceeded, but as the last Christmas we’re going to waste enormous quantity of energy for New Year’s Day light show and beaming light directly to the sky without anyu reasons. As stated repeditely by Major Fabbio he aims to produce “the city of the light” without care about light pollution and evidences can be found on local newspaper archives and on-line journals such as http://www.inalessandria.it or http://www.giornal.it (search for “città della luce”, “sentiero di luce”, “Space Cannon”) or even on national newspaper “La Stampa” archives on http://www.lastampa.it.
Despite the fact that a graduation paper about efficient street ligthing, energy savings and light pollution prevention was produced in the framework of PRACTISE project Major Fabbio let Enel Sole, a franchise owned by the largest Italian electrical company, prepare city lighting plan: this is clearly in conflict with the public interest and there is a strong suspect that this plan will be based upon Uni 10819 standard, an industrial standard that let 10% of city lighting to be legally wasted in to the sky. Not only in the most part of Italy and in the most part of Italian city that signed the “Covenant of the Majors” the upward allowed lighting is ZERO, but there are rumors about Enel Sole joining PRACTISE project.
I cannot understand whythe European Commissioner for Environment and Energy does not pay attention or check the candidates that will join the “Covenant of the Majors”, so I will send the European Commission in the near future a detailed report including a lot of photographs to show how Alessandria is clearly not oriented to save energy for street lighting but is strongly committed to waste electricity for commercial and false “security” purposes. There are cristal clear Italian regional bills such as Lombardy LR17/2000 that successfully prevents light pollution and energy waste (read “National Geographics” last articles) but Alessandria, Italy refuse to comply with them. And European Commission considers this city as an “example” for the whole Europe: what a mistake !
December 9th, 2008 at 8:55 am
As an interior designer i’ll share my horror story of light compliances as currently in rule in california state.
the horrid light bulbs first give off not enough light and what they give off as light after burning needless for hours to get to their full capacity is spreading a cold light that leaves all color washed out of everything.
the TIME waisted alone, forget beautiful natural light , natural stone backs plashes and countertops bathrooms and dressing rooms, all awash in the same color light starved hue.
currently more houses have electrical installed according to the rules then immediately after approval rebuilt for visual comfort. money speaks.
Nuance of color is important for comfort, expressing art. or merely to pick out matching socks.
if all this is taken away, it will only be a matter of time that all these costly changes will be deemed wrong
TO TAKE BACK FROM WESTERN CULTURES SOMETHING AS DEAR AS GOOD LIGHT IS LIKE DEPRIVING DRINKING WATER.
Instead spark the minds of young inventors, put large amounts of money, for the right warm good natural light invention,
pushing through and making due with this current not up to “par” light invention is a not well thought out disaster.
lets not pollute more landfills with already proven dangerous residue..
December 13th, 2008 at 9:21 am
Dear Commissioner
You bracket the three 2020 commitments together, as if they have the same strength. But yesterday the heads of government endorsed again the commitment to deliver 20% of the energy market in 2020 from renewable sources (just about!), endorsed again the commitment at minimum to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% between 1990 and 2020.
But left, as a “best endeavours” rather than anything legally binding, the commitment to improve energy efficiency by 20% by 2020.
Until this changes from an aspiration to a binding legal commitment, it must surely be the also-ran policy in policy terms.
Nobody doubts YOUR personal commitment to energy efficiency. It is the others we need to worry about.
Andrew Warren
December 19th, 2008 at 8:05 am
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://www.my-foreclosures.info