Basic Concept
Energy Conservation means reduction of expenses for energy consumption of the end-users by cost-effective activities, which do not affect the energy services and contribute to environment.

Energy Conservation Mission
Continuous improvement of energy intensity without affecting the level of energy services, taking into consideration national and environmental targets.

National Targets

• Maintain independence of the country
• National security
• Low dependence on foreign energy resources
• Less dependence on oil imports from potentially unstable regions
• Security of supply of energy
• Diversification of primary energy sources
• Balanced portfolio of energy options
• Contribution to IEA goals: maintain oil prices low through low demand
• Improve national competitiveness
• Enhance industrial competitiveness
• Bring the nation out of the recession
• Cost savings to energy consumers
• Develop market and export
• Improve trade balance
• Stimulate complementary private investment
• Leverage market forces
• Improve environment
• Stabilize CO2 emission according to the international agreements
• Phase out nuclear power
• Contribute to national benefits
• Contribute to public benefits
• Electric utility restructuring

Energy Conservation includes:

• Prevention of waste
• Improvements
• Waste heat utilization
• Heat and Power Cogeneration
• Waste and sewage (Biomass) utilization
• Renewable energy
• Conversion to other alternative energy sources

Energy Conservation Goals

• Reduce energy consumption by 15% by the year 2005 (DE)
• by 5% in the years 1990 - 2000 (BE)
• 0% energy consumption growth in the years 1990 - 2000 (CA)
• Improve energy intensity by 40% (FR)
• Improve energy intensity by 33% in the years 1995-2010 (NL)
• Improve energy intensity by 15% in the years 1995 - 2010 (FI)
• Improve energy efficiency of new buildings by 30-50% by the year 2010 (US)
• Improve energy efficiency of existing buildings by 20% by the year 2010 (US)
• Improve energy efficiency of federal buildings by 30% in the years 1985-2005 (in addition to 20% to the year 1985) (US)
• 10% share of renewable energy by the year 2020 (NL)
• Energy intensity < 190 TOE/M$ by the year 2010 (IL)
• Reduce peak demand for electricity by 6% by the year 2000 (US)
• Reduce CO2 by 25% in the year 2005 (DE)
• Reduce CO2 by 8% in the years 1990-2000 (GB)
• Reduce of energy related pollutants by 5% by the year 2010 (US)
• Reduce CO2 by 3% in the years 1995-2000 (NL)
• Reduce CO2 by the year 2000 to the level of the year 1990 (IT)
• 0% CO2 growth in the years 1990-2000 (US)
• 0% CO2 growth (Kyoto Protocol Countries group I)

Barriers

• Lack of UN energy policy and Energy Conservation policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to EU energy policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to EU energy conservation policy - every country different organization and budget, even different name
• Lack of a systematic approach to national policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to national security policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to national economy policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to national energy policy
• Lack of a systematic approach to national energy conservation policy (KR)
• Instability of the political frame (Italy)
• Difficult economic situation
• Energy Conservsation Department organization dependence - not independent governmental unit (part of Ministry with more important targets)
• Preference to grant governmental budget for Research and Development, which is easier spent and justified
• Lack of promotion:
• Without promotion, profitable energy conservation measures will be applied in only a small number of firms (DE)
• Lack of utilities’ cooperation - the main objective of utilities is to sell energy, not energy conservation
• Complex contacts on energy conservation on the free market.
• Lack of knowledge
• Lack of information
• Lack of motivation

Policy Instruments

• President / prime minister commitment and leadership to energy conservation
• President, parliament and government decisions
• Continuity of energy conservation policy
• National energy plan
• Governmental efforts in the energy sector are not to build new power plants, but to reduce the energy intensity (KR)
• National energy conservation plan
• Energy tariffs policy
• Pollution taxes
• Legislation
• Information and education
• Incentives for energy conservation audits
• Incentives for demonstration projects
• Incentives for energy conservation technologies market penetration
• Incentives for energy conservation projects: grants, subsidies and tax reduction
• Voluntary agreements
• Economic support
• Assistance to low-income families (US)