EU plans tough laws on energy efficiency (FT)

[jpak]

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a4020216-5d48-11db-9d15-0000779e2340.html

Wasteful television standby settings and the energy efficiency of computers and water heaters are to be targeted in a new legislative drive aimed at slicing €100bn a year from the European Union’s energy bill, in a move that could impose Europe’s green agenda on the world.

Stringent new European Commission energy efficiency targets for items such as electrical appliances and cars could set new global standards, since all imports into the European market would have to comply.

In a move reflecting Europe’s growing fears about its energy dependence on the rest of the world, as well as its preference for high environmental standards, Andris Piebalgs, EU energy commissioner, will announce on Thursday that he wants to put the bloc on course for a 20 per cent energy saving by 2020.

The plans will be backed by a raft of new regulations, including measures aimed at cutting carbon dioxide emissions that would help Europe meet its obligations under the Kyoto treaty. New energy standards for buildings would also be set.

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