Energy Efficiency Initiatives on the EU Territory. Comparative Perspective

• Author: Crina Radulescu, Cristina Elenea Nicolescu, Teodora Bitoiu
• Pages: 291-298

Performance and Risks in the European Economy

291

Energy Efficiency Initiatives on the EU

Territory. Comparative Perspective

Crina Radulescu1, Cristina Elenea Nicolescu2, Teodora Bitoiu3

Abstract: The worldwide population growth and the lower accessibility to the primary energy resources – that

have fast diminishing reserves – are reflected in the EU records with the 54 million people affected by the

“energy poverty”. Therefore, the topic of energy efficiency is gaining a greater weight on the agenda of the

governments, especially for countries that mostly depend on the energy resources of other cou ntries. The

Directive 2012/27/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on Energy Efficiency include other

requirements concerning the introduction of smart meters and networks to encourage a more efficient power

consumption. The paper aims to highlight, from a comparative perspective, a number of provisions adopted by

some EU Member States to achieve national targets for energy efficiency in 2020. Some countries have recorded

progress, others worrying delays, thus stressing the need for full implementation of the European legislative

framework for energy efficiency. The used methodology is mainly qualitative and is based on the analysis of

documents and case studies, and the performed analysis aims at pro viding important information so to

strengthen the accountability of the decision makers with regard to policies and measures develo pment to

increase energy efficiency, from a concerted perspective aimed at facilitating the Energy Union objectives

fulfilment.

Keywords: Energy Union; energy poverty; public policy instruments; smart meter system

JEL Classification: K32; O13; Q4

1. Introduction

In the context of the natural concern for the energy evolution and global environment, marked by

numerous constraints on world energy balance (currently, the oil and gas component is the biggest

challenge), many countries have managed to quickly adopt strategies and action programs and

alternative energy measures, such as shale gas or renewable energies4, equally trying to ensure the

sustainability maximization of these operations.

1National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania, Corresponding author:

crina.radulescu@administratiepublica.eu.

2National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania, Romania, E-mail:

cristina.nicolescu@administratiepublica.eu.

3National University of Political Studies and Public Administration, Romania, E-mail:

teodora.bitoiu@administratiepublica.eu.

4See for example the US emphasis on amplifying shale gas, Germany’s wishes to reduce its dependence on nuclear power and

switch to renewable energy sources by 2022, China’s effort for a fleet of vehicles fully electric.