European union policy

European goals for 2020 are: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%, to increase the share of renewable energy to 20%, and to make a 20% improvement in energy efficiency.

Europe cannot afford to waste energy. Energy efficiency is one of the central objectives for 2020 as well as a key factor in achieving our long-term energy and climate goals.

European goal for 2030 are: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40% (compared to 1990 levels), to increase the share of renewable energy to at least a 27%, to improve energy efficiency at EU level by at least 27%.

Energy efficiency will continue to play a significant role in delivering the Union's climate and energy objectives 

Commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 80-95% below 1990 levels by 2050.

Systematically using the waste heat of electricity generation in combined heat and power (CHP) plants requires further actions.
A shift in energy consumption towards low carbon and locally produced energy (…), including through district heating systems, is needed.

Heating and cooling consume half of the EU's energy and much of it is wasted. Developing a strategy to make heating and cooling more efficient and sustainable is a priority for the Energy Union.

Some industries generate heat as a by-product. Much more of this could be reused within plants or sold to heat buildings nearby. The same applies to waste heat from power stations, the service sector and infrastructure such as metros The technical potential has been estimated to cover all the EU’s space heating demand; the economically recoverable potential, however, requires analysis of local conditions.