Green Paper on Energy Efficiency or Doing More with Less

Public Consultation on
Green Paper on Energy Efficiency or Doing More with Less

In June 2005, the European Commission published a Green Paper on Energy Efficiency that seeks to put energy savings higher on the agenda. Faced with increasing oil prices and the prospects of having 70% of its energy needs dependent on imports by 2030, the European Union needs to start a discussion on how to save energy. The Green Paper lists a number of options to save 20% of energy demand by 2020 in a cost effective way through changes in consumer behaviour and energy efficient technologies. These savings would allow the EU to save an estimated €60 billion on its energy bill. Equivalent savings for Ireland are estimated to be between €1 billion and €1.5 billion. This will in turn represent investments in the EU economy where European industry can strengthen its lead. This energy efficiency initiative will help Europe achieve two fundamental goals of the Lisbon Strategy: creating more growth and better jobs. It will also help Europe meet its Kyoto commitments.

The Green Paper on Energy Efficiency or Doing More with Less can be found at the following link: http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/energy/efficiency/index_en.htm  Although the original consultation period proposed by the EU Commission was up to the end of 2005, it has since been extended to March 2006.

The Minister for Communications Marine & Natural Resources, Mr Noel Dempsey, welcomes this Green Paper from the Commission and is supportive of its thrust to find ways of using less fuel and of getting better efficiencies from the use of fuels. Our degree of reliance on imported fuels, security of supply issues due to ever increasing supply lines and uncertainty due to geo-political risk make energy efficiency a priority issue. This initiative moves energy and energy efficiency higher up the agenda and highlights the fact that all areas of the economy and the community have a part to play in reducing our energy demand and thereby saving money.

The capital and running costs of energy efficiency measures to save 1 unit of energy are many times cheaper than those of generating an additional unit of energy. The higher employment from efficiency measures and the ongoing savings will be a boost to the Irish economy. In addition, the reduction in energy demand will reduce CO₂ and other greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources now requests views on all aspects of the Green Paper. Inputs have been canvassed from all Government Departments to ensure a comprehensive policy response to the Green Paper. Your contribution to this consultation will allow your views to be considered in forming the Irish response. When responding please state whether you are responding as an individual or representing the views of an organisation. If responding on behalf of an organisation, please make it clear who the organisation represents and, where applicable, how the views of the members were assembled. Submissions may be published on the Department’s website. A written response may be submitted by letter, fax or email to:

Jonathan Harte
Energy Efficiency Division
Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
Adelaide Rd
Dublin 2
Tel: 353 (01) 6782272
Fax: 353 (01) 6782089
Email: jonathan.harte@dcmnr.ie

Closing Date for receipt of responses is Tuesday 7th February 2006.

Responses that address unique aspects of Ireland’s energy demand and sources of supply and point towards initiatives that could establish niche areas for Ireland in research, technology or applications of energy efficient strategies will be particularly welcome.

Summary of the purpose and content of the Green Paper