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.
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