Changes from adopted text to adopted text

Removed(18) This Directive is part of a broader policy framework of energy efficiency policies addressing energy efficiency potentials in specific policy areas, including buildings (Directive 2010/31/EU), products (Directive 2009/125/EC, Regulation (EU) 2017/1369 and Regulation (EU) 2020/740) and governance mechanism (Regulation (EU) 2018/1999). Those policies play a very important role in delivering energy savings when products are replaced or buildings constructed or renovated.

Removed(19) Reaching an ambitious energy efficiency target requires barriers to be removed in order to facilitate investment in energy efficiency measures. The LIFE Clean Energy Transition sub-programme will dedicate funding to support development of the European best practice in energy efficiency policy implementation addressing behavioural, market, and regulatory barriers to energy efficiency.

Removed(20) The European Council of 23 and 24 October 2014 supported a 27% energy efficiency target for 2030 at Union level, to be reviewed by 2020 having in mind a Union-level target of 30%. In its resolution of 15 December 2015 entitled ‘Towards a European Energy Union’, the European Parliament called on the Commission to assess, in addition, the viability of a 40% energy efficiency target for the same timeframe.

Removed(21) It is projected that the 32,5% Union´s energy efficiency target for 2030 and the other policy instruments of the existing framework would lead to a reduction in GHG emission of about 45% by 2030. For an increased climate ambition of a 55% decrease of GHG emissions by 2030, the impact assessment of the 2030 Climate Target Plan assessed what level of efforts would be needed in the different policy areas. It concluded that, in relation to the baseline, achieving the GHG emissions target in a cost-optimal way meant that final and primary energy consumption are to decreased by at least 36-37% and 39-41% respectively.

Removed(22) The Union’s energy efficiency target was initially set and calculated using the 2007 Reference Scenario projections for 2030 as a baseline. The change in the Eurostat energy balance calculation methodology and improvements in subsequent modelling projections call for a change of the baseline. Thus, using the same approach to define the target, that is to say comparing it to the future baseline projections, the ambition of the Union’s 2030 energy efficiency target is set compared to the 2020 Reference Scenario projections for 2030 reflecting national contributions from the NECPs. With that updated baseline, the Union will need to further increase its energy efficiency ambition ▌. The new way of expressing the level of ambition for the Union’s targets does not affect the actual level of efforts needed ▌.

Removed(23) The methodology for calculation of final and primary energy consumption is aligned with the new Eurostat methodology, but the indicators used for the purpose of this Directive have different scope - that is they exclude ambient heat and include energy consumption in international aviation for the target in final energy consumption. The use of new indicators also implies that any changes in energy consumption of blast furnaces are now only reflected in primary energy consumption.

Removed(24) The need for the Union to improve its energy efficiency should be expressed in primary and final energy consumption, to be achieved in 2030, indicating additional level of efforts required when compared to the measures in place or planned measures in the national energy and climate plans. The 2020 Reference Scenario projects 864 Mtoe of final energy consumption and 1124 Mtoe of primary energy consumption to be reached in 2030 (excluding ambient heat and including international aviation). An additional reduction of 14,5 % results in 740 Mtoe and 960 Mtoe in 2030 respectively. This corresponds to a reduction of 40 % for final energy consumption and 42,5 % for primary energy consumption respectively when compared to the 2007 Reference Scenario projections for 2030. There are no binding targets at Member State level to achieve the 2020 energy efficiency target. For the 2030 target, national contributions should become binding, and Member States should establish their contributions to the achievement of the Union’s energy efficiency target according to the formula provided in this Directive. Member States should be free to set their national objectives based either on primary or final energy consumption or primary or final energy savings, or on energy intensity. This Directive amends the way how Member States should express their binding national contributions to the binding Union´s target. Member States’ binding contributions to the Union’s target should be expressed in final and primary energy consumption to ensure consistency and monitoring of progress. A regular evaluation of progress towards the achievement of the Union's 2030 targets is necessary and is provided for in Regulation (EU) 2018/1999.

Removed(25) The energy efficiency target should be achieved as a result of the cumulative implementation of specific local, regional, national and European measures promoting energy efficiency in different fields. Member States should be required to set national energy efficiency policies and measures. Those policies and measures and the individual efforts of each Member State should be evaluated by the Commission, alongside data on the progress made, to assess the likelihood of achieving the overall Union target and the extent to which the individual efforts are sufficient to meet the common goal.

Removed(26) The public sector is responsible for around 5 to 10% of total Union’s final energy consumption. Public authorities spend approximately 1.8 trillion euro annually. This represents around 14% of the Union’s gross domestic product. For that reason the public sector constitutes an important driver to stimulate market transformation towards more efficient products, buildings and services, as well as to trigger behavioural changes in energy consumption by citizens and enterprises. Furthermore, decreasing energy consumption through energy efficiency improvement measures can free up public resources for other purposes. Public bodies at national, regional and local level should fulfil an exemplary role as regards energy efficiency.

Removed(27) To lead by example, the public sector should set its own decarbonisation and energy efficiency goals. Energy efficiency improvements in the public sector should reflect the efforts required at Union level. ▌An obligation to achieve an annual reduction of the energy consumption in the public sector by at least 2% should ensure that the public sector fulfils its exemplary role. Member States retain full flexibility regarding the choice of energy efficiency improvement measures to achieve a reduction of the final energy consumption. Requiring an annual reduction of final energy consumption has a lower administrative burden than establishing measurement methods for energy savings.

Removed(28) To fulfil their obligation, Member States should target the final energy consumption of all public services and installations of public bodies. To determine the scope of addressees, Member States should apply the definition of contracting authorities provided in the Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. The obligation can be fulfilled by the reduction of final energy consumption in any area of the public sector, including transport, public buildings, healthcare, spatial planning, water management and wastewater treatment, sewage and water purification, waste management, district heating and cooling, energy distribution, supply and storage, public lighting, infrastructure planning. To lower the administrative burden for public bodies, Member States should establish digital platforms or tools to collect the aggregated consumption data from public bodies, make them publicly available, and report the data to the Commission.

Removed(29) Member States should exercise an exemplary role by ensuring that all energy performance contracts, energy audits and energy management systems are carried out in the public sector in line with European or international standards, or that energy audits are used to a large extent in the intense energy consuming parts of the public sector. Member States should provide clear guidance and procedures for the use of those instruments.

Removed(30) Public authorities are encouraged to obtain support from entities such as sustainable energy agencies, where applicable established at regional or local level. The organisation of those agencies usually reflect the individual needs of public authorities in a certain region or operating in a certain area of the public sector. Centralised agencies can serve the needs better and work more effectively in other respects, for example, in smaller or centralised Member States or regarding complex or cross-regional aspects such as district heating and cooling. Sustainable energy agencies can serve as one-stop-shops pursuant to Article 21. Those agencies are often responsible for developing local or regional decarbonisation plans, which may also include other decarbonisation measures, such as the exchange of fossil fuels boilers, and to support public authorities in the implementation of energy related policies. Sustainable energy agencies or other entities to assist regional and local authorities may have clear competences, objectives and resources in the field of sustainable energy. Sustainable energy agencies could be encouraged to consider initiatives taken in the framework of the Covenant of Mayors, which brings together local governments voluntarily committed to implementing the Union´s climate and energy objectives, and other existing initiatives for this purpose. The decarbonisation plans should be linked to territorial development plans and take into account the comprehensive assessment which the Member States should carry out.

Removed(31) Member States should support public bodies in planning and the uptake of energy efficiency improvement measures, including at regional and local levels, by providing financial and technical support and submitting plans addressing the lack of workforce and qualified professionals needed for all stages of the green transition, including craftspeople as well as high-skilled green technology experts, applied scientists and innovators. Member States should support public bodies to take into account the wider benefits beyond energy savings, such as the improved quality of indoor air and healthier indoor environment as well as an improvement of people’s quality of life, in particular for schools, day care centres, nursing homes, sheltered housing and hospitals. Member States should provide guidelines promoting competence building and training opportunities and encourage cooperation amongst public bodies including amongst agencies. For that purpose, Member States could set up national and regional competence centres on complex issues, such as advising local or regional energy agencies on district heating or cooling.

Removed(31a) In a situation of energy security crisis and a surge in energy prices, Member States should be provided with incentives to frontload investments in energy savings. To that end, Member States that renovate more than 3 % of the total floor area of their buildings in any given year during the 2024-2026 period should be given the possibility to count the surplus towards the annual renovation rate of any of the three following years. A Member State that renovates more than 3 % of the total floor area of its buildings from 1 January 2027 may count the surplus towards the annual renovation rate of the following two years. That possibility should not be used for purposes that are not in line with the general objectives and the level of ambition of this Directive.

Removed(32) Buildings and transport, alongside industry, are the main energy users and main source of emissions. Buildings are responsible for about 40% of the Union’s total energy consumption and for 36% of its GHG from energy. The Commission Communication entitled Renovation Wave addresses the twin challenge of energy and resource efficiency and affordability in the building sector and aims at doubling the renovation rate. It focusses on the worst performing buildings, energy poverty and on public buildings. Moreover, buildings are crucial to achieving the Union objective of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Buildings owned by public bodies, and buildings providing services of general interest, such as education (such as day care centres, schools and universities), health (such as hospitals and nursing homes for older people) and social services (such as community centres serving young people, older people and people living in low-income households), or social housing, account for a considerable share of the building stock and have high visibility in public life. It is therefore appropriate to set an annual rate of renovation of buildings owned by public bodies and buildings for social purposes on the territory of a Member State to upgrade their energy performance and be transformed into at least nearly zero-energy buildings or zero-emission buildings. Member States are invited to set a higher renovation rate, where that is cost-effective in the framework of the renovation of their buildings stock in conformity with their Long Term Renovation Strategies or national renovation programmes. That renovation rate should be without prejudice to the obligations with regard to nearly-zero energy buildings (NZEBs) set in Directive 2010/31/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council. Member States should be able to apply less stringent requirements to some buildings, such as buildings with special architectural or historical merit. During the next review of Directive 2010/31/EU, the Commission should assess the progress Member States achieved regarding the renovation of public bodies’ buildings. The Commission should consider submitting a legislative proposal to revise the renovation rate, while taking into account the progress achieved by the Member States, substantial economic or technical developments, or where needed, the Union´s commitments for decarbonisation and zero pollution. The obligation to renovate public bodies’ buildings in this Directive complements that Directive, which requires Member States to ensure that when existing buildings undergo major renovation their energy performance is upgraded so that they meet the requirements on NZEBs. Additional guidance should be provided by the Commission and the Member States on the deep renovation of buildings with historic value.

Removed(33) To set the rate of renovations, Member States need to have an overview of the buildings that do not reach the NZEB level. Therefore, Member States should publish and keep updated an inventory of public buildings including social housing as part of an overall database of energy performance certificates. That inventory should enable also private actors including energy service companies (ESCOs) to propose renovation solutions and they can be aggregated by the Union Building Stock Observatory.

Removed(34) In 2020, more than half of the world’s population lives in urban areas. That figure is expected to reach 68% by 2050. In addition, half of the urban infrastructures by 2050 are still to be built. Cities and metropolitan areas are centres of economic activity, knowledge generation, innovation and new technologies. Cities influence the quality of life of the citizens who live or work in them. Member States should support municipalities technically and financially. A number of municipalities and other public bodies in the Member States have already put into place integrated approaches to energy saving and energy supply and sustainable mobility, for example via sustainable energy action plans or sustainable urban mobility plans, such as those developed under the Covenant of Mayors initiative, and integrated urban approaches which go beyond individual interventions in buildings or transport modes. Further efforts are needed in the area of improving the energy efficiency of urban mobility, for both passenger and freight transport, as it uses around 40 % of all road transport energy. Regulation ... [revised TEN-T Regulation - 2021/0420(COD)] should contribute significantly to addressing the energy efficiency of urban transport with a consistent, integrated and multimodal approach via the requirement to adopt sustainable urban mobility plans (SUMP) as defined in that Regulation. Moreover, in order to reach the goals of this Directive, Member States should strongly encourage as many local authorities as possible to adopt SUMPs in order to contribute to the reduction of energy consumption and avoid unnecessary transport where possible, in line with the energy efficiency first principle.

Removed(35) With regard to the purchase of certain products and services and the purchase and rent of buildings, contracting authorities and contracting entities which conclude public works, supply or service contracts should lead by example and make energy-efficient purchasing decisions and apply the energy efficiency first principle, including for those public contracts and concessions for which no specific requirements are provided for in Annex IV. This should apply to the administrative departments whose competence extends over the whole territory of a Member State. When in a given Member State and for a given competence no such relevant administrative department exists that covers the whole territory, the obligation should apply to those administrative departments whose competences cover collectively the whole territory. The provisions of the Union’s public procurement directives should not however be affected. Member States should remove barriers to joint procurement within a Member State or across borders if this can reduce the costs, enhance the benefits of the internal market by creating business opportunities for suppliers and energy service providers.

Removed(36) All public entities investing public resources through procurement should lead by example when awarding contracts and concessions by choosing products, services works and buildings with the highest energy efficiency performance, also in relation to those procurements that are not subject to specific requirements under Directive 2009/30/EC. In that context, all award procedures for public contracts and concessions with the value above the thresholds set out in Articles 6 and 7 of Directive 2014/23/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Article 2(1) of Directive 2014/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Articles 3 and 4 of Directive 2014/25/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, need to take into account the energy efficiency performance of the products, buildings and services set by Union or national law, by considering as priority the energy efficiency first principle in their procurement procedures.

Removed(37) It is also important that Member States monitor how the energy efficiency requirements are taken into account by contracting authorities and contracting entities in the procurement of products, buildings, works and services by ensuring that information about the impact on energy efficiency of those winning tenders above the thresholds referred to in the procurement directives are made publically available. That allows stakeholders and citizens to assess the role of public sector towards ensuring energy efficiency first in public procurement in a transparent manner.

Removed(38) The European Green Deal recognises the role of circular economy in contributing to overall Union decarbonisation objectives. The public sector should contribute to those objectives by using their purchasing power to, where appropriate, choose environmentally friendly products, buildings, services and works via available tools for green public procurement, and thus making an important contribution to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts.

Removed(39) It is important that Member States provide the necessary support to public bodies in the uptake of energy efficiency requirements in public procurement and ▌use of green public procurement, by providing necessary guidelines and methodologies on carrying out the assessment of life-cycle costs, and environment impacts and costs. Well-designed tools, in particular digital tools, are expected to facilitate the procurement procedures and reduce the administrative costs especially in smaller Member States that may not have sufficient capacity to prepare tenders. In this regard, Member States should actively promote the use of digital tools and cooperation amongst contracting authorities including across borders for the purpose of exchanging best practice.

Removed(40) Given that buildings are responsible for greenhouse gas emissions before and after their operational lifetime, Member States should also consider the whole life-cycle of carbon emissions of buildings. That takes place in the context of efforts to increase attention to whole life cycle performance, circular economy aspects and environmental impacts, as part of the exemplary role of the public sector. Public procurement can thus serve as an opportunity to address the embodied carbon in buildings over their life-cycle. In this regard, contracting authorities are important actors that should take action as part of procurement procedures by purchasing new buildings that address global warming potential over the full life-cycle.

Removed(41) The global warming potential over the full life-cycle measures the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the building at different stages along its life cycle. It therefore measures the building’s overall contribution to emissions that lead to climate change. That is sometimes referred to as a carbon footprint assessment or the whole life carbon measurement. It brings together carbon emissions embodied in building materials with direct and indirect carbon emissions from use stage. Buildings are a significant material bank, being repositories for carbon intensive resources over many decades, and so it is important to explore designs that facilitate future reuse and recycling at the end of the operational life in line with the new circular economy action plan. Member States should promote circularity, durability, and adaptability of building materials, in order to address the sustainability performance of construction products while setting a competitive and attractive cost, by using all the available financial instruments to provide incentives for the use of circular materials.

Removed(42) The global warming potential is expressed as a numeric indicator in kgCO2e/m² (of useful internal floor area) for each life-cycle stage averaged for one year of a reference study period of 50 years. The data selection, scenario definition and calculations are carried out in accordance with standard EN 15978. The scope of building elements and technical equipment are set out in indicator 1,2 of the Level(s) common Union framework. Where a national calculation tool exists, or is required for making disclosures or for obtaining building permits, it should be possible to use that national tool to provide the required information. It should be possible to use other calculation tools, if they fulfil the minimum criteria laid down by the Level(s) common Union framework.

Removed(43) Directive 2010/75/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council governs installations that contribute to energy production or use energy for production purposes, and information on the energy used in or generated by the installation must be included in applications for integrated permits (Article 12(1)(b)). Moreover, that Directive specifies in Article 11 of that Directive that efficient use of energy is one of the general principles governing the basic obligations of the operator and one of the criteria for determining best available techniques pursuant to Annex III of the Directive 2010/75/EU. The operational efficiency of energy systems at any given moment is influenced by the ability to feed power generated from different sources — with different degrees of inertia and start-up times — into the grid smoothly and flexibly. Improving efficiency will enable better use to be made of renewable energy.

Removed(44) Improvement in energy efficiency can contribute to higher economic output. Member States and the Union should aim to decrease energy consumption regardless of levels of economic growth.

Removed(45) The energy savings obligation established by this Directive should be increased and should also apply after 2030. That ensures stability for investors and thus encourage long-term investments and long-term energy efficiency measures, such as the deep renovation of buildings with the long-term objective of facilitating the cost effective transformation of existing buildings into NZEBs. Deep renovations that improve the energy performance of a building by at least 60 % are currently carried out annually in only 0,2 % of the building stock, and energy efficiency is significantly improved in only a fifth of the cases. The energy savings obligation has an important role in the creation of local growth, jobs, competitiveness and alleviating energy poverty. It should ensure that the Union can achieve its energy and climate objectives by creating further opportunities and to break the link between energy consumption and growth. Cooperation with the private sector is important to assess the conditions on which private investment for energy efficiency projects can be unlocked and to develop new revenue models for innovation in the field of energy efficiency.

Removed(46) Energy efficiency improvement measures also have a positive impact on air quality, as more energy efficient buildings contribute to reducing the demand for heating fuels, including solid heating fuels. Energy efficiency measures therefore contribute to improving indoor and outdoor air quality and help achieve, in a cost effective manner, the objectives of the Union's air quality policy, as established in particular by Directive (EU) 2016/2284 of the European Parliament and of the Council.

Removed(47) Member States are required to achieve cumulative end-use energy savings for the entire obligation period up to 2030, equivalent to new annual savings of at least 0,8% of final energy consumption up to 31 December 2023 and of at least 2 % as of 1 January 2024. That requirement could be met by new policy measures that are adopted during the obligation period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2030 or by new individual actions as a result of policy measures adopted during or before the previous period, provided that the individual actions that trigger energy savings are introduced during the following period. To that end, Member States should be able to make use of an energy efficiency obligation scheme, alternative policy measures, or both.

Removed(48) For the period 2021 to 31 December 2023, Cyprus and Malta should be required to achieve cumulative end-use energy savings equivalent to new savings of 0,24 % of final energy consumption only for the period 2021 to 2030. That individual savings rate should cease to apply from 1 January 2024.

Removed(49) Where using an obligation scheme, Member States should designate obligated parties among transmission system operators, distribution system operators, energy distributors, retail energy sales companies and transport fuel distributors or retailers on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria. The designation or exemption from designation of certain categories of such distributors or retailers should not be understood to be incompatible with the principle of non-discrimination. Member States are therefore able to choose whether such transmission system operators, distribution system operators, distributors or retailers or only certain categories thereof are designated as obligated parties. To empower and protect vulnerable customers and low-income households, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing, and to implement policy measures as a priority among those people, Member States can require obligated parties to achieve energy savings among vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing. For that purpose, Member States can also establish energy cost reduction targets. Obligated parties could achieve these targets by promoting the installation of measures that lead to energy savings and financial savings on energy bills, such as the installation of insulation and heating measures, and by supporting energy savings initiatives by renewable energy communities and citizen energy communities. Those measures can be particularly beneficial to vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing, as those people tend to live in worse-performing buildings and thus stand to benefit the most from energy efficiency improvements.

Removed(50) When designing policy measures to fulfil the energy savings obligation, Member States should respect the climate and environmental standards and priorities of the Union and comply with the principle of ‘do no significant harm’ within the meaning of Regulation (EU) 2020/852. Member States should not promote activities that are not environmentally sustainable such as use of ▌fossil fuels. The energy savings obligation aims at strengthening the response to climate change by promoting incentives to Member States to implement a sustainable and clean policy mix, which is resilient, and mitigates climate change. Therefore, energy savings from policy measures regarding the use of direct fossil fuel combustion may be eligible energy savings under energy savings obligation under certain conditions and for a certain period following the transposition of this Directive in accordance with Annex V. It will allow aligning the energy savings obligation with the objectives of the European Green Deal, the Climate Target Plan, the Renovation Wave Strategy, and mirror the need for action identified by the IEA in its net zero report. The restriction aims at encouraging Member States to spend public money into future-proof, sustainable technologies only. It is important that Member States provide a clear policy framework and investment certainty to market actors. The implementation of the calculation methodology under energy savings obligation should allow all market actors to adapt their technologies in a reasonable timeframe. Where Member States support the uptake of efficient fossil fuel technologies or early replacement of such technology, for example through subsidy schemes or energy efficiency obligation schemes, energy savings may not be eligible anymore under the energy savings obligation. While energy savings resulting, for example, from the promotion of natural gas-based cogeneration would not be eligible, the restriction would not apply for indirect fossil fuel usage, for example where the electricity production includes fossil fuel generation. Policy measures targeting behavioural changes to reduce the consumption of fossil fuel, for example through information campaigns, eco-driving, should remain eligible. The energy savings from policy measures targeting building renovations may contain measures such as a replacement of fossil fuel heating systems together with building fabric improvements, which should be limited to those technologies that allow achieving the required energy savings according to the national building codes established in a Member State. Nevertheless, Member States should promote upgrading heating systems as part of deep renovations in line with the long-term objective of carbon neutrality, i.e. reducing the heating demand and covering the remaining heating demand with a carbon-free energy source. When accounting for the savings needed to achieve a share of the energy savings obligation among people affected by energy poverty, Member States may take into account their climatic conditions.

Removed(51) Member States' energy efficiency improvement measures in transport are eligible to be taken into account for achieving their end-use energy savings obligation. Such measures include policies that are, inter alia, dedicated to promoting more efficient vehicles, including battery powered modes of transport, a modal shift to cycling, walking and collective transport, or mobility and urban planning that reduces demand for transport. In addition, schemes which accelerate the uptake of new, more efficient vehicles or policies fostering a shift to fuels with reduced levels of greenhouse gas emissions, except policy measures regarding the use of direct fossil fuel combustion, that reduce energy use per kilometre are also capable of being eligible, subject to compliance with the rules on materiality and additionality set out in Annex V to this Directive. Policy measures promoting the uptake of new fossil fuel vehicles should not qualify as eligible measures under the energy savings obligation.

Removed(52) Measures taken by Member States pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/842 of the European Parliament and of the Council and which result in verifiable, and measurable or estimable, energy efficiency improvements can be considered to be a cost-effective way for Member States to fulfil their energy-saving obligation under this Directive.

Removed(53) As an alternative to requiring obligated parties to achieve the amount of cumulative end-use energy savings required under Article 8(1) of this Directive, it should be possible for Member States, in their obligation schemes, to permit or require obligated parties to contribute to an Energy Efficiency National Fund, which could be used to implement policy measures as a priority among vulnerable customers, people affected by energy poverty and people living in social housing.

Removed(54) Member States and obligated parties should make use of all available means and technologies , except regarding the use of direct fossil fuel combustion technologies, to achieve the cumulative end-use energy savings required, including by promoting smart and sustainable technologies in efficient district heating and cooling systems, efficient heating and cooling infrastructure, efficient and smart buildings, electrical vehicles and industries and energy audits or equivalent management systems, provided that the energy savings claimed comply with the requirements laid down in Article 8 and Annex V to this Directive. Member States should aim for a high degree of flexibility in the design and implementation of alternative policy measures. Member States should encourage actions resulting in energy savings over the whole lifecycle.

Removed(55) Long-term energy efficiency measures will continue to deliver energy savings after 2020 but, in order to contribute to the Union's 2030 energy efficiency target, those measures should deliver new savings after 2020. On the other hand, energy savings achieved after 31 December 2020 should not count towards the cumulative end-use energy savings required for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.

Removed(56) New savings should be additional to ‘business as usual’, so that savings that would have occurred in any event should not count towards the achievement of the energy savings requirements. In order to calculate the impact of the measures introduced, only net savings, measured as the change of energy consumption that is directly attributable to the energy efficiency measure in question implemented for the purpose of Article 8 of this Directive, should be counted. To calculate net savings, Member States should establish a baseline scenario of how the situation would evolve in the absence of the measure in question. The policy measure in question should be evaluated against that baseline. Member States should take into account minimum requirements provided by the relevant legislative framework at Union level, and should take into account the fact that other policy measures may be carried out in the same time frame which may also have an impact on the amount of energy savings, so that not all changes observed since the introduction of a particular policy measure being evaluated can be attributed to that policy measure alone. The actions of the obligated, participating or entrusted party should in fact contribute to the achievement of the energy savings claimed in order to ensure the fulfilment of the materiality requirement.

Removed(57) It is important to consider, where relevant, all steps in the energy chain in the calculation of energy savings in order to increase the energy savings potential in the transmission and distribution of electricity. Studies carried out and consultation of stakeholders have revealed a significant potential. However, the physical and economic conditions are quite different among Member States, and often within several Member States, and there is a large number system operators. Those circumstances point to a decentralized approach, pursuant to the subsidiarity principle. National Regulatory Authorities have the required knowledge, legal competences and the administrative capacity to promote the development of an energy efficient electricity grid. Entities such as the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity (ENTSO-E) and the European Entity for Distribution System Operators (the EU DSO Entity) can also provide useful contributions and should support their members in the uptake of energy efficiency measures.

Removed(58) Similar considerations apply for the very large number of natural gas system operators. The role of natural gas and the rate of supply and coverage of the territory is highly variable among Member States. In those cases National Regulatory Authorities are best placed to monitor and steer the system evolution towards an increased efficiency, and entities such as European Network of Transmission System Operators for Gas (ENTSOG) can provide useful contributions and should support their members in the uptake of energy efficiency measures.

Removed(58a) ESCOs are important to develop, design, build, and arrange financing for projects that save energy, reduce energy costs, and decrease operations and maintenance costs in sectors such as buildings, industry and transport.

Removed(59) Consideration of the water-energy nexus is particularly important to address the interdependent energy and water use and the increasing pressure on both resources. The effective management of water can make a significant contribution to energy savings yielding not only climate benefits, but also economic and social benefits. The water and wastewater sectors account for 3,5% of electricity use in the Union and that share is expected to rise. At the same time, water leaks account for 24% of total water consumed in the Union and the energy sector is the largest consumer of water, accounting for 44% of consumption. The potential for energy savings through the use of smart technologies and processes across all industrial, residential and commercial water cycles and applications should be fully explored and applied whenever cost-effective and the energy efficiency first principle should be considered. In addition, advanced irrigation technologies, rainwater harvesting and water reuse technologies could substantially reduce water consumption in agriculture, buildings and industry and the energy used for treating and transporting it.

Removed(60) In accordance with Article 9 of the Treaty, the Union's energy efficiency policies should be inclusive and should therefore ensure equal access to energy efficiency measures for all consumers affected by energy poverty. Improvements in energy efficiency should be implemented as a priority among vulnerable customers and final users, people affected by energy poverty, and ▌among low-income, medium-income households and people living in social housing, elderly people and those living in rural and remote areas and in the outermost regions. In this context, specific attention should be paid to particular groups which are more at risk of being affected by energy poverty or more susceptible to the adverse impacts of energy poverty, such as women, persons with disabilities, elderly people, children, and persons with a minority racial or ethnic background. Member States can require obligated parties to include social aims in energy-saving measures in relation to energy poverty and this possibility had already been extended to alternative policy measures and Energy Efficiency National Funds. That should be transformed into an obligation to protect and empower vulnerable customers and final users and to alleviate energy poverty, while allowing Member States to retain full flexibility with regard to the type of policy measure, their size, scope and content. If an energy efficiency obligation scheme does not permit measures relating to individual energy consumers, the Member State may take measures to alleviate energy poverty by means of alternative policy measures alone. Within its policy mix, Member States should ensure that other policy measures do not have an adverse effect on vulnerable customers, final users, people affected by energy poverty and, where applicable, people living in social housing. Member States should make best possible use of public funding investments into energy efficiency improvement measures, including funding and financial facilities established at Union level.

Removed(61) This Directive refers to the concept of vulnerable customers, which Member States are to establish pursuant to Directive (EU) 2019/944. In addition, pursuant to Directive 2012/27/EU, the notion of ‘final users’ alongside the notion of ‘final customer’ clarifies that the rights to billing and consumption information also apply to consumers without individual or direct contracts with the supplier of energy used for collective heating, cooling or domestic hot water production systems in multi-occupant buildings. The concept of vulnerable customers does not necessarily ensure the targeting of final users. Therefore, in order to ensure that the measures set out in this Directive reach all individuals and households in a situation of vulnerability, Member States should include not only customers, in its strict sense, but also final users, in establishing their definition of vulnerable customers.

Removed(62) Around 34 million households in the Union were unable to keep their home adequately warm in 2019. The European Green Deal prioritises the social dimension of the transition by committing to the principle that `no one is left behind´. The green transition, including the clean transition, affects women and men differently and may have a particular impact on some disadvantaged groups including people with disabilities. Energy efficiency measures must therefore be central to any cost-effective strategy to address energy poverty and consumer vulnerability and are complementary to social security policies at Member State level. To ensure that energy efficiency measures reduce energy poverty for tenants sustainably, the cost-effectiveness of such measures, as well as their affordability to property owners and tenants, should be taken into account, and adequate financial and technical support for such measures should be guaranteed at Member State level. Member States should support the local and regional level in identifying and alleviating energy poverty. This includes identifying and addressing the specific needs of particular groups at risk of energy poverty or more susceptible to its effects. To protect people affected by energy poverty, vulnerable customers and, where applicable, people living in social housing, Member States should encourage obligated parties to carry out actions such as renovation of buildings, including social housing, replacement of appliances, financial support and incentives for energy efficiency improvement measures in conformity with national financing and support schemes, or energy audits. Member States should require obligated parties to work with regional and local authorities, and engage with social services and civil society organisations (such as consumer organisations, social NGOs and housing associations) to set up an engagement platform dedicated to the alleviation of energy poverty. The Union's building stock needs, in the long term, to be converted to NZEBs in accordance with the objectives of the Paris Agreement. Current building renovation rates are insufficient and buildings occupied by citizens on low incomes who are affected by energy poverty are the hardest to reach. The measures laid down in this Directive with regard to energy savings obligations, energy efficiency obligation schemes and alternative policy measures are therefore of particular importance.

Removed(63) To tap the energy savings potential in certain market segments where energy audits are generally not offered commercially (such as small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)), Member States should develop programmes to encourage and support SMEs to undergo energy audits and to implement recommendations from the energy audits, for example by setting up support schemes, such as energy audit centres for SMEs and microenterprises to cover costs of an energy audit. Such centres could be based in universities, with a central database for collecting and communicating audit results. Energy audits should be mandatory and regular for large enterprises, as energy savings can be significant. Energy audits should take into account relevant European or international standards, such as EN ISO 50001 (Energy Management Systems), EN ISO 50005 (Energy Management Systems), EN 16247-1 (Energy Audits), ISO 50002 (Energy Audits) or, if including an energy audit, EN ISO 14000 (Environmental Management Systems) and thus be also in line with the provisions of Annex VI to this Directive as such provisions do not go beyond the requirements of these relevant standards. A specific European standard on energy audits is currently under development. Energy audits may be carried out on a stand-alone basis or be part of a broader environmental management system or an energy performance contract. In all such cases those systems should comply with the minimum requirements of Annex VI. In addition, specific mechanisms and schemes established to monitor emissions and fuel consumption by certain transport operators, for example under EU law the EU ETS, may be considered compatible with energy audits, including in energy management systems, if they comply with the minimum requirements set out in Annex VI.

Removed(63a) Member States should ensure the mandatory nature of implementing the recommendations of energy audits by enterprises. The absence of the obligation to implement audit recommendations is a major reason why those recommendations are not adequately taken into account by enterprises.

Removed(64) The enterprise’s average consumption should be the criterion to define the application of energy management systems and of energy audits in order to increase the sensitivity of those mechanisms in identifying relevant opportunities for cost-effective energy savings. Enterprises that are below the consumption thresholds defined for energy management systems and energy audits should be encouraged and be provided technical support to undergo energy audits and to implement the recommendations resulting from those audits.

Removed(65) Where energy audits are carried out by in-house experts, the necessary independence would require these experts not to be directly engaged in the activity audited.

Removed(66) The information and communications technology (ICT) sector another important sector which receives increasing attention. In 2018 the energy consumption of data centres in the EU was 76,8 TWh. This is expected to rise to 98.5 TWh by 2030, a 28% increase. This increase in absolute terms can as well be seen in relative terms: within the EU, data centres accounted for 2,7% of electricity demand in 2018 and will reach 3,21% by 2030 if development continues on the current trajectory. Europe’s Digital Strategy already highlighted the need for highly energy-efficient and sustainable data centres and calls for transparency measures for telecommunication operators on their environmental footprint. To promote sustainable development in the ICT sector, particularly of data centres, Member States should collect and publish data, which is relevant for the energy performance, water footprint and demand-side flexibility of data centres, on the basis of a common Union template. Member States should collect and publish data only about data centres with an installed IT power demand of at least 100 kW, for which appropriate design or efficiency interventions, for new or existing installations respectively, can result in a considerable reduction of the energy and water consumption, an increase in systems’ efficiency promoting decarbonisation of the grid or in the reuse of waste heat in nearby facilities and heat networks. Data centre sustainability indicators should be established on the basis of that data collected, taking also into account already existing initiatives in the sector. With a view to facilitating disclosure, the Commission should prepare guidelines on monitoring and publishing information about the energy performance of data centres, after carrying out consultations with relevant stakeholders and considering existing standardised metrics. It is imperative to have a harmonised approach across Member States, in order to avoid different reporting schemes and key performance indicators between Member States.

Removed(67) The data centre sustainability indicators should be used to measure four basic dimensions of a sustainable data centre, namely how efficiently it uses energy, how much of that energy comes from renewable energy sources, the reuse of any waste heat that it produces, the effectiveness of cooling, the effectiveness of carbon usage and the usage of freshwater. The data centre sustainability indicators should raise awareness amongst network operators, data centre owners and operators, manufactures of equipment, developers of software and services, users of data centre services at all levels as well as entities and organisations that deploy, use or procure cloud and data centre services. It should also give confidence about the actual improvements following efforts and measures to increase the sustainability in new or existing data centres. Finally, it should be used as a basis for transparent and evidence-based planning and decision-making. Use of the data centre sustainability indicators should be mandatory for Member States. Use of the data centre sustainability indicator should be optional for Member States. The Commission should assess the efficiency of data centres based on the information communicated by Member States.

Removed(67a) The Commission should, in line with Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council, establish sector-specific energy efficiency partnerships by bringing together key stakeholders, including NGOs and social partners, in sectors such as ICT, transport, finance and buildings in an inclusive and representative manner.

Removed(68) Lower consumer spending on energy should be achieved by assisting consumers in reducing their energy use by reducing the energy needs of buildings and improvements in the efficiency of appliances, which should be combined with the availability of low-energy transport modes integrated with public transport, shared mobility and cycling. Member States should also consider improving connectivity in rural and remote areas.

Removed(69) It is crucial to raise the awareness of all Union citizens about the benefits of increased energy efficiency and to provide them with accurate information on the ways in which it can be achieved. Citizens of all ages should also be involved in the energy transition via the European Climate Pact and the Conference on the Future of Europe. Increased energy efficiency is also highly important for the security of energy supply of the Union through lowering its dependence on import of fuels from third countries.

Removed(70) The costs and benefits of all energy efficiency measures taken, including pay-back periods, should be made fully transparent to consumers.

Removed(71) When implementing this Directive and taking other measures in the field of energy efficiency, Member States should pay particular attention to synergies between energy efficiency measures and the efficient use of natural resources in line with the principles of the circular economy.

Removed(72) Taking advantage of new business models and technologies, Member States should endeavour to promote and facilitate the uptake of energy efficiency measures, including through innovative energy services for large and small customers.

Removed(73) It is necessary to provide for frequent and enhanced feedback on energy consumption where technically feasible and cost-efficient in view of the measurement devices in place. This Directive clarifies that whether sub-metering is cost-efficient or not depends on whether the related costs are proportionate to the potential energy savings. The assessment of whether sub-metering is cost-efficient may take into account the effect of other concrete, planned measures in a given building, such as any forthcoming renovation. Member States should ensure that, in so far as it is technically possible, financially reasonable, and proportionate to the potential energy savings, for natural gas, heating, cooling and domestic hot water, final customers are provided with competitively priced individual meters that accurately reflect the final customer's actual energy consumption and that provide information on actual time of use.