Global Energy Efficiency Policies Following In European Union’s Steps
Energy efficiency policies for commercial buildings are becoming a global focal point, following in the wake of stringent and effective policies put into place by the European Union.
However, a new report from Navigant Research has concluded that the largest barrier to the efficacy of energy efficiency policies for commercial buildings around the world is a lack of enforcement. The authors of the report therefore conclude that there must be an increase in the regulation of energy efficiency policies and codes, and benchmarking must be enforced if policy reform is to be successful.
Energy efficiency regulations in the European Union are a requirement for member states, which then must create and enforce their own internal policies. According to Navigant, this method has forced EU member states to “proactively address energy efficiency in buildings and create their own policies surrounding these issues.” This trend is beginning to filter out through the rest of the global community, as other regions and countries look to follow the EU’s example. Add to this the impact of the recent Paris Climate Summit, and a global trend towards increasing the importance and efficacy of energy efficiency is slowly becoming one of the most important means to addressing climate change and global emissions reductions.
“Globally, governments and regulatory agencies have increased their focus on commercial buildings, which are large consumers of the world’s energy,” said Krystal Maxwell, research associate with Navigant Research. “Europe is a leader among world regions in energy efficiency policy, with the most rigorous building codes, performance standards, labeling, and benchmarking, as well as some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.”
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