The paper indicates there have been significant policy developments in the energy efficiency in recent years, but reports that IEA member countries have significant unexploited energy saving opportunities that could be achieved via implementation of additional policies.
5 April 2012: The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published a working paper on “Progress Implementing the IEA 25 Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations.” The paper reveals significant policy developments since the 2009 progress check.
In order to spur progress on energy efficiency, the IEA recommended the adoption of specific energy efficiency policy measures to the G8 at their summits in 2006, 2007 and 2008. These collective recommendations became known as the “IEA 25 energy efficiency recommendations,” covering seven priority areas: cross-sectoral activity, buildings, appliances, lighting, transport, industry and utilities. In 2009 the IEA conducted an evaluation of member-country implementation of the recommendations. This was followed up in 2011 with a second evaluation, the results of which are published in this working paper.
The findings highlight that all sectors have benefited from recent policy developments. However, the working paper indicates that significant unexploited energy saving opportunities remain and could be achieved via additional energy efficiency policy implementation. The working paper also highlights that sharing experience with implementing energy efficiency policies will accelerate energy efficiency improvements worldwide and transform markets for energy-efficient technologies, and that the “benefits of implementing energy efficiency extend beyond energy security and climate change mitigation to job creation, health improvements and others.” [Publication: Progress Implementing the IEA 25 Energy Efficiency Policy Recommendations].