Challenges to energy efficiency include societal issues trends, which impede the realization of the cost-effective EE potentials, if policymakers fail to address them. The EE1 indicator identifies two main obstacles: Energy poverty and sufficiency.
- Energy poverty: Inefficient energy is a primary driver of energy poverty and hence, the implementation of energy efficiency schemes can reduce energy poverty in the long term. However, energy poor households often face greater barriers when it comes to investing in energy efficiency. Therefore, it is necessary for policymakers to identify those barriers and to ensure through targeted schemes that also the most vulnerable households can benefit from the energy efficiency measures.
- Sufficiency: Behavioral changes can both support and counteract the aspirations of energy efficiency. For instance, an increasing demand for more electric appliances per dwelling or a preferential use of bigger cars, can contribute to an efficient use of energy. On the other hand, energy efficient behavior such as a more conscious consumption of meat and less air travel can have the opposite effect. The implementation of measures addressing energy sufficiency, prevents negative social trends such as larger homes to unfold in unmanaged manner and reduces the burden technological changes as the only contribution to climate protection.
The purpose of this tool is to provide an overview of the measures and policies, which each country has implemented to address the two challenges energy poverty and sufficiency.