Green Light For Europe
Green Light For Europe
Inspired by the success of the US Green Lights Program (now to be integrated in the Energy Star Buildings Program) the European Commissions has taken its first steps towards developing a European version of the Green Light Program.
Lighting, which accounts for about a third of the electricity use in commercial buildings, represents a huge energy savings potential that has only partly been tapped. Thus far, most European commercial-sector lighting programs have been run by local or national agencies, or by electric utilities (or by a combination of both). Although lighting has been a priority area for the European Commission as well, the CommissionÕs activities have been more focused on large-scale research, demonstration, and information programs in partnerships with national public and private entities. By taking the initiative to launch an EU-wide Green Lights program, the Commission has now taken a major step towards promoting the large-scale implementation of efficient lighting technologies in the commercial sector. EU Green Lights is presently taking shape as a "voluntary pollution prevention programme" encouraging non-residential electricity consumers (public or private) to commit themselves to installing energy-efficient lighting technologies in their facilities wherever it is profitable to do so while at the same time improving, or at least maintaining, lighting quality. Corporate top-managers will be invited to sign a Memorandum of Understanding stating that they will undertake all the relevant lighting upgrades within a given period.
Change in corporate thinking
It is hoped that the program will help transform the way organizations make decisions about efficient lighting investments. These decisions, traditionally given low priority, have been based on a limited amount of information and analysis, and have had low visibility within the organizations. The key strategy behind the Green Lights program is to elevate the responsibility for decision-making concerning lighting efficiency in buildings to senior corporate officials, thereby getting the full participation of the rest of the organization. It is hoped that participating companies in Green Lights will make profitable lighting upgrades a priority and will advertise their accomplishment both within and outside their organization, as has been the case in the United States (See IAEEL Newsletter 4/96). As a result, energy efficiency upgrades should no longer be seen as cost centers but rather as profit centers, according to the program designers. Because lighting upgrades should pay for themselves, the Commission will not subsidize the investments. However, it will provide a comprehensive range of information resources, including implementation and financial guidelines, contact directories, technical advice, and computer tools. In addition, through advertisements, articles, logo, and media events, the Commission will strive to obtain broad public recognition for the program and its participants. The European program differs from the US program in several ways. Perhaps the most important structural difference is the fact that the position of the European Commission is very different from that of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), which has been in charge of the US program. In Europe, the Commission must cooperate with national energy agencies and similar organizations, and the funding responsibility must be shared. This will, however, allow program designers to take country-specific differences into account when creating promotional and market communications materials.
Promising perspective
The Green Light concept has proven to be successful in other countries. In Sweden, the National Energy Administration (STEM) runs a program called EKO-Energi, directed towards the industry, with a focus on industrial processes. Although it did not deal specifically with lighting, the programÕs design was very strongly influenced by the US Green Lights program, and it proved to be very successful. (However, since this program deals with complex industrial processes, the risk associated with retrofits is perceived as being much higher by participating companies. Thus, the EKO-Energi program offers free audits and some initial consulting.) Unfortunately, due to budgetary constraints the program is scheduled to be terminated. Another example is the UK governmentÕs "making a corporate commitment" campaign. It was started in the early 90Õs, independently of the US program. Although this governmental program did not deal specifically with lighting, like the US program it targeted senior corporate executives who committed themselves to work for improved energy efficiency within their organization. The program has received mixed reviews, however, with some observers thinking that it was too vague since it failed to identify specific technical actions. Therefore, it is difficult to tell whether any worthwhile results have been achieved. Nevertheless, most people seem to think that the program has had significant impact in several organizations. In the USA, it is estimated that the Green Lights Program had generated 7 TWh electricity savings by 1997, according to the USEPA. Although similar savings potentials are expected in Europe, total lighting energy use is poorly known. The EC is presently funding two European studies aimed at categorizing and quantifying commercial lighting use. The Netherlands Agency for Energy and the Environment (Novem) is in charge of a Green Lights background study that, among other things, is trying to establish commercial sector energy use and savings potentials. The Novem-led study is also reviewing experiences gained in connection with voluntary lighting programs. A second SAVE study, led by the Danish Electric Utility Research Institute (DEFU), will take a more in-depth approach to establishing a European baseline for lighting in the commercial sector. It will base its results primarily on energy audits and measured data.
Will companies join?
In a recent market survey in which top managers in more than 40 large European companies were interviewed, attitudes towards joining this program were found to be generally favorable. By the end of the year, a core pilot group, composed of representatives of the most motivated companies, will have been formed. In the meantime, national energy agencies from 12 EU countries have decided to embark on a EU SAVE-sponsored pilot project to explore ways of disseminating the Green Lights concept within Europe. This pilot project is intended to lay the foundation for cooperation between agencies in individual countries and the European Commission aimed at effectively promoting Green Lights in the EU Member States.
Information site during EU Green Light start-up phase: ftp://greenlt:greenlt@iamest.jrc.it/home.htm
For further information, contact:
Paolo Bertoldi,
European Commission, DG XVII
Tel: +32 2 295 22 04
Fax: +32 2 296 42 54
E-mail: Paolo.Bertoldi@bxl.dg17.cec.be
Vincent Berrutto and Flavio Conti
European Commission, Joint Research Centre
Tel: +39 33 278 96 88, Fax: +39 33 278 99 92
E-mail: Vincent.Berrutto@jrc.it
Green Lights background study
Nils Borg, Borg & Co
Tel: +46 8 673 11 31
E-mail: nils@borgco.se
EU lighting baseline study
Casper Kofod
Tel: +45 45 88 14 00
Fax: +45 45 93 12 88
E-mail: CK@defu.dk