EEB
September 11, 2023
September 11, 2023
European Commission
Germany
Argentina
Brazil
People’s Republic of China
Republic of Korea
Saudi Arabia
Led by Germany and the European Commission. Operating agent: German Energy Agency (dena)
The European Union is made up of 27 member states, together constituting the second-largest economy in the world. The European Commission is its executive arm. The 2019 European Green Deal contains many energy efficiency measures and aims to make the European Union climate-neutral by 2050.
The European Union accounts for 12% of global energy consumption, with fossil fuels comprising 72% of the overall energy mix.
The EU’s Energy Efficiency Directive is the main EU-wide instrument that sets efficiency targets and obligations for member states. The Energy Performance of Buildings Directive promotes green buildings and drives efficiency renovation. The Energy Union Strategy puts energy efficiency first and ensures a collaborative approach among member states.
The Commission currently chairs the Hub and is represented by the Directorate-General for Energy . It co-leads the SEAD and EEB Task Groups, participates in other Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
Germany has the largest economy in Europe, and is a leader in energy policy and technology. The government has implemented a wide variety of standards and initiatives promoting energy efficiency across all sectors.
Germany imports two-thirds of its energy, and while most energy is provided by fossil fuels, renewable energy sources are rapidly becoming a larger share.
The national strategy for transitioning to a low-carbon economy, Energiewende, includes many energy efficiency measures, such as requiring large companies to conduct energy audits and enacting energy-efficient standards for appliances and buildings.
Germany is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, participates in all Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
Argentina is the second-largest country in South America by land area and the fourth-largest lithium producer. The government has implemented wide-ranging energy efficiency policies in industry, transport and buildings.
While 26% of Argentina’s power generation comes from hydropower, wind, and solar, the country is also rich in oil and gas.
Standards and labelling programmes for key appliances are in place and buildings constructed with national funds must meet energy performance standards.
Argentina is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the Secretaría de Energía under the Ministry of Economy, participates in several Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
Brazil is the fifth-largest country in the world by area and the largest energy consumer in South America. It has long-standing national energy efficiency policies, including utility-funded programmes for consumers and appliance energy standards and labels.
Renewables meet 45% of Brazil’s primary energy demand, making the energy sector one of the least carbon-intensive in the world. Hydropower accounts for around 80% of electricity generation.
Key policy mechanisms include building codes, standards for space cooling equipment and measures promoting energy management systems.
Brazil is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the Ministério de Minas e Energia, participates in all Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
China is the world’s most populous country currently and fourth-largest in area. To reconcile energy and development goals, it is developing clean energy and has vigorously pursued energy efficiency policies for several decades.
China aims to transition its economy to a less carbon- and energy-intensive model. While coal and oil dominate energy supply, policies emphasise renewable and nuclear electricity and cleaner, efficient technologies.
The country has many energy efficiency programmes, including building, equipment and appliance energy performance standards and labels, and the Top 10,000 scheme requiring industrial firms to set targets for and invest in energy efficiency.
China is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the National Development & Reform Commission, leads the TOP TENs Task Group, participates in several Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
Korea is one of the most economically developed nations in East Asia. The government has announced policies that would significantly accelerate energy efficiency improvements.
Korea depends on fossil fuel imports, which account for 85% of the country’s total energy supply. Policies aim to significantly improve energy efficiency and the share of renewable electricity, while gradually phasing out coal and nuclear power.
The Green New Deal and Energy Master Plan are key legislations aimed at supporting the energy transition. The Energy Efficiency Innovation Strategy supports deployment of information and communication technologies, energy management systems, intelligent transport systems and virtual power plants.
Korea is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the Korean Energy Agency, participates in several Task Groups, and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
Saudi Arabia is the largest country in the Middle East and the world’s largest exporter of oil. The Saudi Energy Efficiency Center (SEEC) was established to accelerate energy efficiency uptake in industry, buildings and transport.
Saudi Arabia holds 15% of the world’s oil reserves. While oil accounts for 62% of energy consumption, national policies promote development of renewable energy supplies.
The SEEC’s major initiative is the National Energy Efficiency Programme (NEEP), which was launched in 2012 and includes policies such as public awareness campaigns, higher standards for heating and cooling equipment and stricter building energy performance requirements.
The Kingdom is represented on the Hub’s Steering Committee by the Ministry of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources. It participates in the SEAD Task Group and contributes to the Hub’s Policy Exchange Workshops.
EEB Task Group promotes policy best practices and fosters synergies with existing bodies working in the field through discussion of priorities and challenges, the sharing of lessons learned, and enhanced policy development.
Key EEB objectives include:
EEB was established in 2022 to scale up best practices on energy efficiency in buildings and to foster even closer cooperation with international partners.
A number of bodies are already making valuable contributions to the exchange of information across sectors and across national boundaries about building energy efficiency.
However, the analysis of these initiatives shows a benefit for an enhanced and structured government-to-government dialogue, focusing on policy issues.
There is a dearth of opportunities for national officials to learn directly from each other how to grapple with the challenges of designing and implementing effective building energy efficiency policies.
The EEB Task Group has created a platform for policy makers in national administrations to exchange on policies and measures to improve the energy performance of buildings.
The Task Group relies primarily on studies from and analytical capabilities of the various international and national organizations and think tanks, supported by focused analysis and overviews to strengthen the intergovernmental dialogue on a peer basis. This enables members to prioritise the most effective policies and implementation processes for boosting energy efficiency in buildings.
While responses to the 2022 energy crisis varied across regions, common elements included:
programmes and policies to accelerate energy efficiency in buildings, including deployment of heat pumps
direct support to shield consumers from higher energy prices
consumer campaigns targeting behaviour change to entice demand reduction
financial incentives for households and businesses, including subsidies, grants, and loans.
Enabling policies and supportive financing models
Getting stakeholders engaged
Skills needs and workforce development in the building renovation sector
Case studies and their replicability
Buildings’ life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methodologies, existing models and applications
Policy approaches to promote LCA/LCC and energy system integration
Tools for LCA/LCC: software analysis tools and databases
