Improving the efficiency with which energy is consumed by end-users is a central theme of the European Union's energy policy. Energy efficiency is one of the fastest and most cost effective ways to reduce CO2 emissions, contribute to energy security, and help to create new jobs and make European organisations more competitive.
The JRC provides key scientific support to the third dimension of the Energy Union (Energy Efficiency Contributing to the Moderation of Demand) and assesses the role of the efficiency improvements in reducing GHG emissions in energy intensive industries in support of the EU Emission Trading System (one component of the fourth dimension of the Energy Union).
Technical and scientific advice is provided to the Commission's services for the design, implementation and monitoring of EU energy efficiency policies and programmes, with focus on monitoring the Member States' efforts towards the EU energy efficiency targets for 2020 and 2030 and on the implementation of the Roadmap of the Energy Union, in particular on the revision of the current EU energy efficiency legislation: the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED), the Energy Performance of Building Directive (EPBD), the Eco-design and Energy Labelling Directives, and the EU Strategy on Heating and Cooling.
This is emphasised in the Commission Green Paper Towards a European Strategy for Energy Supply Security [PDF] which highlights the central role of energy efficiency for increasing the security of supply and reducing greenhouse gasses emissions.
This is further developed in the recent European Climate Change Programme (ECCP) [PDF] which highlights the large cost-effective potential for improving energy efficiency of end-use equipment.