Energy efficiency is a strategic priority for the European Union: the European Commission promotes ‘energy efficiency first’ as a principle.
Energy efficiency is as an energy source in its own and in principle it is the cheapest and the most widely available. The same applies to material efficiency.
By using energy and materials more efficiently, energy and resource demand can be reduced, leading to lower energy bills for consumers and the business, lower emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, reduced need for energy infrastructure, reduced energy and material imports (an economic and security goal), reduced environmental damages.
Ecodesign and Labelling are the crucial tools for enhancing products energy and material efficiency.