European Commission Communication: EU 'Save Energy'

                    EUROPEAN
                    COMMISSION




                                        Brussels, 18.5.2022
                                        COM(2022) 240 final




        COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN
     PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL
            COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

                           EU 'Save Energy'




EN                                                               EN
1.    INTRODUCTION

Saving energy, i.e. reducing energy consumption through price signals, energy efficiency
measures or voluntary efforts can often be the cheapest, safest and cleanest way to reduce
our reliance on fossil fuel imports from Russia. Moreover, using less energy supports
security of supply, facilitates storage requirements and underpins the clean energy
transition.

Voluntarily reducing unnecessary energy consumption and fast-tracking energy
efficiency measures will reduce the volume of gas and oil shortage in case of a disruption
of flows from Russia. As such it is a critical element to stabilise markets and prevent
further price volatility. Over the medium to long-term, energy savings would contribute
to lower the prices of energy, help responding effectively to sudden price hikes and
supply shortages.

Saving energy directly reduces our energy bills and makes our economy more resilient.
High prices for fossil fuel-based energy already hurt households and all industrial sectors,
from services to manufacturing and from agriculture to transport. For the energy poor,
vulnerable households, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and for energy
intensive industries, they force uncomfortable choices about forgoing energy use. Higher
energy prices also affect the relative competitiveness of firms with possible knock-on
effects on employment and incomes.

Last year, as part of the ‘Fit for 55’ package and delivering on the European Green Deal,
the Commission proposed an increase of the energy efficiency ambition by the end of
this decade. While primarily framed to support the decarbonisation of the EU economy,
the proposal also implied other substantial benefits such as higher energy security and
lower GHG emissions, air pollution and natural resources depletion.