Energy Efficiency: Parliament Gives Wake Up Call to Commission and Member States

1.09.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 19th Dec 2007

The European Parliament's Industry and Energy Committee has unanimously backed a report from UK Liberal Democrat that calls for drastic measures in the area of Energy Efficiency. In particular, the report criticizes the Member States and the Commission for their failure to implement and enforce existing energy efficiency directives.

Moreover, the report calls on the Commission to act speedily to bring in minimum standards of energy efficiency for such things as air conditioning and set top "decoder" boxes, and put in place a full timetable for taking the least efficient type of light bulbs - old-style incandescents - off the market as soon as possible.

The report also asks the Commission to look at the feasibility of phasing out standby mode on electrical appliances and banning other energy-guzzling items such as patio heaters.

The report calls for major changes to the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, due to be revised in 2008, and recommends much higher energy efficiency standards for new and renovated buildings of all sizes.

London Lib Dem MEP Baroness Sarah Ludford said:

"With 40% of the energy we consume being used in buildings it is vital that we that the measures I have recommended are put in place as soon as possible.

"We talk of the need to combat climate change with renewables, but we should never lose sight of the fact that energy efficiency is the fastest and cheapest way to cut CO2 emissions.

"I am delighted that in the Parliament the drive to push forward energy efficiency has been done with cross party support, even for the potentially more controversial aspects of this report."