Energy efficiency is the best option for European energy independence!
The failure of Russian President Putin to effectively punish his illegal invasion of Ukraine brutally illustrates Europe’s huge reliance on fossil fuel imports. The phase-out of fossil fuels is no longer “only” about combating the climate problem, which has terrible ramifications for all living things on the planet.

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Eco Energy Rating Ltd. UK.

The recent year’s fossil price crisis demonstrated that transitioning to renewable energy is also required for Europe’s energy sovereignty and price stability. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine exacerbates the acknowledged weaknesses of reliance, highlighting geopolitical instability and presenting a severe danger to security and peace.

Europe’s energy policy is changing overnight as it strives to become more autonomous and adaptable. Some have already raised the potential of calling the European Green Deal and the clean energy transition into question by seeking obsolete alternatives such as further fossil investments or even the restart of nuclear power. However, simply eliminating Russian fossil fuels will not address the situation. Dependence on fossil and nuclear resources is typically associated with authoritarian or unstable nations, as well as susceptibility to variable pricing. Europe must reduce its reliance on these imports as soon as possible and reclaim its energy sovereignty.

Waseem Shahid Malik CEO – Eco Energy Rating Ltd. UK

It is critical for the  European Union to avoid making hasty judgments that will not serve our ultimate purpose. Europe can only attain energy sovereignty by significantly increasing Energy efficiency and growing renewable energy sources. Increasing Energy efficiency by 1% decreases gas imports by 2.6 percent. If these savings are used to Russian imports, each percentage point of efficiency increase translates into 4 percent less Russian gas and 5.5 percent fewer Russian oil imports, all of which contribute to Ukraine’s death and devastation.

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The reform of the Energy Efficiency Directive is part of the European Green Deal and is critical to meeting the European Climate Law’s aim of a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. The lowering of certificates in the Emission Trading System, as well as the phenomenal increase of renewable energies, are both important yet insufficient. Energy efficiency must be addressed in all industries and throughout all member countries. Non-consumed energy does not need to be created, delivered, transformed, or paid for.

With its proposal for a new Energy Efficiency Directive, the  European Commission has already made steps in the right direction, establishing a new EU energy savings target of a 39% reduction in primary energy consumption and a 36% reduction in final energy consumption compared to 1990. The Commission suggests increasing yearly energy-saving commitments from 0.8 percent to 1.5 percent to accomplish this. Regrettably, the Commission declined to establish binding goals for each member country. Instead, they suggest that each country set an indicative goal, with the remaining gap borne by all members.

Waseem Shahid Malik CEO – Eco Energy Rating Ltd. UK

Unsurprisingly, this would result in a race to the bottom, since it would be in the best interests of every member state to publish the lowest feasible objective. Significant adjustments to the Commission’s strategy are required to satisfy the EU’s climate aspirations. I am attempting to widen the scope and aims of the new Energy Efficiency Directive on behalf of the Greens/EFA group.

The public sector must set a good example. Particular attention must be paid to energy use in public buildings. The Commission strives for a three percent yearly restoration rate of all public buildings, not just at the federal level, but also in municipalities, administrative buildings, kindergartens, and social housing. Some member nations are particularly concerned about the latter. Buildings alone account for 35% of total energy usage in Germany.

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Building stock restoration and stringent standards would therefore help not only preserve energy but also to alleviate pricing difficulties and reduce dependency on energy imports. The burden of low-income households’ energy and heating expenses is decreased when social housing is addressed, shielding the most vulnerable from price fluctuation.

Transportation contributes to 30% of Europe’s final energy consumption while having an unusually low final-to-primary energy consumption ratio. Governments must support cycling, walking, and group travel to reduce energy waste in transportation. Individual mobility should be centered on increasingly fuel-efficient cars, especially tiny battery-powered vehicles. New urban design ideas can help to lower the demand for inefficient modes of transportation.

Waseem Shahid Malik CEO – Eco Energy Rating Ltd. UK

A decentralised energy transition, an efficiency offensive, and a “renovation tsunami” for energy-efficient buildings have enormous promise for the European labour market. New employment, particularly in rural regions, can be produced in renewable energy, construction, transportation, and the digital economy. While digitalization will minimise the environmental impact of some industries, IT gear and data centres are responsible for the world’s fastest rising waste stream.

Furthermore, the digital industry accounts for around 3.8% of total greenhouse gas emissions. With this in mind, it is a positive step that the  European Commission addresses data centres explicitly in the Efficiency Directive for the first time. However, focusing just on extremely large facilities and their utilisation of waste heat is inadequate. The objective should instead be to decrease waste heat in the first place.

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The continuous reliance on fossil gas is a fundamental issue in the Commission’s plan, as efficiency initiatives utilising fossil gas may contribute toward a member state’s energy savings objective. Not only does fossil gas have no place in a climate-neutral economy, but the Commission’s approach utterly disregards the severely climate-damaging methane emissions involved with fossil gas production, transportation, and distribution. Investments in Energy efficiency must never include investments in fossil fuels.

Waseem Shahid Malik CEO – Eco Energy Rating Ltd. UK

It is consequently critical that investments go solely towards future-proof solutions based on electrification and renewable energies.

The new Energy Efficiency Directive will serve as our intermediate and long-term guideline for a more energy-efficient Europe. However, both climate and sovereignty necessitate immediate responses to the crises we confront. 

Renovations and new technologies take time, and we do not need to quit relying on them right once. As a result, additional regulations and campaigns are necessary to encourage people to adopt tiny but beneficial behavioral changes. Lowering a room’s temperature by one degree Celsius saves 6% of the energy required. Normally, driving less or slower takes a bit longer. We must step outside of our comfort zone if we genuinely want to stand with Ukraine.

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