The European GreenLight Programme: A Major Initiative to Reduce Electricity Consumption in Non-Residential Buildings

Panel: Panel 4. Commercial Buildings: Program Design, Implementation, and Evaluation

Authors:
Vincent Berrutto, European Commission Joint Research Centre
Flavio Conti, European Commission Joint Research Centre
Paolo Bertoldi, European Commission Directorate General Energy & Transport

Abstract

Lighting accounts for a substantial part of electricity use in non-residential buildings. Despite a number of significant energy-efficient lighting initiatives from certain Member States and the European Commission (DG TREN1), the most recent estimations tend to show that the potential for energy savings remains high in Europe. DG TREN decided to react by launching on 7 February 2000 the European GreenLight Programme. This programme encourages non-residential electricity consumers (public or private) to commit towards the European Commission to install energy-efficient lighting technologies in their facilities wherever (1) it is profitable, and (2) lighting quality is maintained or improved. Such a programme benefits from promising prospects and the active support from the National Energy Agencies of 14 European countries. These Agencies are starting to recruit the first programme participants with the objective of getting 60 signatures within the first months.