Brussels, 16/07/2007 (Agence Europe) - Last Friday, the Commission's internal scientific service, the Joint Research Centre (JRC), published a report. The report reveals that total electricity consumption in the enlarged Union is increasing, despite measures adopted in national and Community plans to reduce energy consumption and subsequent CO2 emissions. The electricity consumption in the residential sector of the EU25 grew at a rate comparable to overall GDP (10.8 %), effectively nullifying overall savings between 1999 and 2004. The report, Electricity Consumption and Efficiency Trends in the Enlarged European Union, highlights the key findings of an in-depth 2006 survey on electricity consumption in buildings in the enlarged EU, and the market share of energy-efficient appliances and equipment. It calculates future potential savings based on currently available technologies. According to the report, electricity consumption in the tertiary (service) sector increased by 15.8%, and industry consumption by 9.5%. The average consumption for a single household in the EU25 was 4098 kWh in 2004. This could be reduced by 800 kWh per house per year, or about 20 % less electricity consumption in each household, if replacement of existing appliances and equipment and a full phase out of incandescent lighting were to be actively promoted in all EU member states.
According to the report, the increasing demand for electricity in the EU member states is down to many different factors: the widespread use in the EU of traditional appliances such as dishwashers, tumble driers, air conditioners and personal computers is one, as well as the introduction of consumer electronics and information and communication technology equipment such as Set Top boxes, DVD players, broadband equipment and cordless telephones. Other important factors are the increased number of double or triple appliances, mainly TVs and refrigerators/freezers in households, and the general increase in single family houses and larger houses and apartments.
Another important finding of the JRC report is that incandescent light bulbs, a relatively antiquated technology dating from the 19th century that waste a staggering 95% of the electricity they use to produce visible light, could be a field where modern technology could contribute to more efficient energy use. Many governments around the world have advocated the phasing out of incandescent lighting (e.g. Australia by 2012), and the JRC report notes that this may be a valid area of savings for Europe as well, in particular as new, very efficient technologies such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and recently, white Light Emitting Diodes [LEDs], are rapidly penetrating the market.
The JRC report contains many useful tips for reducing energy consumption, such as switching to solar energy water heaters. To view the full report: (http: //ies.jrc.ec.europa.eu). (eh)