(Directive 2012/27/EU on Energy efficiency, amending Directives 2009/125/EC and 2010/30/EU and repealing Directives 2004/8/EC and 2006/32/EC)
The directive aims to support the 2020 Climate and Energy Package target of 20% energy efficiency increase by 2020.
"New national measures have to ensure major energy savings for consumers and industry alike. For example:
- energy distributors or retail energy sales companies have to achieve 1.5% energy savings per year through the implementation of energy efficiency measures
- EU countries can opt to achieve the same level of savings through other means such as improving the efficiency of heating systems, installing double glazed windows or insulating roofs
- the public sector in EU countries should purchase energy efficient buildings, products and services
- every year, EU governments will carry out energy efficient renovations on at least 3% of the buildings they own and occupy by floor area
- empowering energy consumers to better manage consumption. This includes easy and free access to data on consumption through individual metering
- national incentives for SMEs to undergo energy audits
- large companies will make audits of their energy consumption to help them identify ways to reduce it
- monitoring efficiency levels in new energy generation capacities" (http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1399375464230&uri=CELEX:32012L0027)