The 2012/27/EU Directive on energy efficiency entered into force on 4/12/2012. It will have to be transposed by all Member states by mid-2014. Until then, there was no specific binding legislation aiming at implementing the objective of 20% less energy consumption by 2020. This directive brings forward binding measures to step up Member States’ efforts to use energy more efficiently. By April this year, all Member states must have set their targets and levels of ambition. Binding measures apply notably in the fields of buildings and industry: energy companies are requested to reduce energy sales by 1.5% every year among their customers; the public sector is required to renovate 3% of their buildings; Member states are requested to draw up a roadmap to make the buildings sector more energy efficient by 2050. Finally, energy audits and management plans will be required for large companies.

The European Commission consultation page is here.