ACTIVITIES :: Sustainable Growth :: Energy Efficiency
Smarter use of energy
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Europeans are using more and more energy. To continue living our lives as we do, we need to
make more efficient use of our natural resources. Changing our energy consumption patterns is a major challenge but the application of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs)
can make it possible.
The EU has committed itself to expanding the use of renewable energies by 20%, achieving a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and a 20% increase in energy efficiency, all by 2020.
There are multiple ways by which ICTs can improve energy efficiency. ICTs are routinely employed, for example, in the monitoring and control of energy-use in buildings. Less known, but potentially much more profound is the effect of the many information tools, such as energy demand-modelling and simulation tools. These tools can help policy makers in their planning and managers decide on major investments for their organisations.
ICTs also underlie the ‘smart’ in smart-metering, turning the traditional energy meter into an ICT device capable of collecting and communicating a live stream of data and other information on their energy use to consumers. Such information can in turn be used by consumers to help them better understand how much energy they consume and where, how much it costs, how it varies over time and thereby enable them to act so as to achieve savings.
The Commission has acknowledged that ICT-based innovations may provide one of the potentially most cost-effective means to help Member States achieve the 2020 targets. A Communication adopted by the Commission in May 2008 identified the many ways in which ICT can contribute to energy efficiency gains. A Communication adopted by the Commission in March 2009 and a consequent Recommendation adopted in October 2009 identified concrete actions for the ICT industry, for EU Member State governments and their regional and local administrations, to exploit the enabling capacities of ICTs to achieve improved energy efficiency across society and the economy.
The Commission also supports activities to encourage the development and application of ICT tools to improve energy efficiency. Under the Seventh Research Framework Programme (FP7), it supports projects aimed at developing energy-positive buildings and neighbourhoods (which generate the energy they need and sell any surplus generated), and developing the smart energy grid (which makes use of ICTs to manage and distribute renewable energy and to minimise losses in production and distribution). Under the ICT Policy Support Programme (ICT PSP), EU funding is used to support public authorities in piloting and validating innovative ICT-based solutions to improve energy efficiency in public buildings and in social housing.
There are already many examples of funded projects focused on the Buildings and Smart Grids sectors.
