Energy auditing activities in key role in combating climate change
In the Declaration of the Energy Audit´06 Conference issued today, 13 September 2006, the participants declared their commitment to intensify their work to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in their respective countries and organisations. One effective step would be an International Energy Audit Programme IEAP, to be launched as part of the forthcoming European Commission´s Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in co-operation with the UN and other international organisations.
In the Declaration of the Energy Audit´06 Conference issued today, 13 September 2006, the participants declared their commitment to intensify their work to promote energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in their respective countries and organisations. One effective step would be an International Energy Audit Programme IEAP, to be launched as part of the forthcoming European Commission´s Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in co-operation with the UN and other international organisations.
The development of IEAP would support the work of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development CSD. The declaration underlined that the efficient coordination with major international financing institutions, such as the World Bank, would play an essential role in implementation of the energy audit programme.
The forthcoming Energy Efficiency Action Plan of the European Commission could have an essential role in launching the IEAP as a part of the planned International Framework Agreement on Energy Efficiency.
In their presentations during the opening day of the Conference both Finnish Minister for Trade and Industry Mr Mauri Pekkarinen and Minister for the Environment Mr Jan-Erik Enestam emphasised the importance of energy audits. EU Commissioner for Energy Mr Andris Piebalgs stated also in his presentation that energy audits are called upon to play important roles in improving energy efficiency. In accordance of the forthcoming Action Plan the Commission will issue a mandate for an European norm for energy audits in 2008.
Energy Audit´06 Conference brought together energy efficiency experts and decision-makers from all over the world
The Energy Audit ´06 Conference, held over three days in Sibelius Hall in Lahti, brought together over 200 participants from nearly 40 countries all over the world, and represented were over eight major international organisations such as the European Union, International Energy Agency IEA, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and International Finance Corporation as well governments of several different countries.
The conference contributed to meeting the objectives
The EU’s shared energy auditing activities incorporate three key objectives. First is to launch a capacity building programme of audit expertise under appropriate international organisation, a kind of framework programme. The second important goal is to launch preparations for an internal EU project to help member states set up their own energy audit schemes required by the Energy Services Directive. The third goal is to initiate collaboration in the area of developing audit models and methods, so that each EU Member State is not separately grappling with the same problem. According to the delegates, the Energy Audit ´06 Conference contributed a great deal towards meeting these goals.
The Energy Audit ´06 Conference has been one of the accompanying events of Finland’s term of EU Presidency. The Conference was organised by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Ministry of the Environment, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Motiva Ltd. Its execution was also supported by the European Commission Intelligent Energy Europe Programme.
For more information:
Chief Counsellor Mr Erkki Eskola
Ministry of Trade and Industry, +358 9 1606 4812
Senior Adviser Mr Heikki Väisänen
Ministry of Trade and Industry, tel. + 358 9 1606 4834
Customer Service Manager Mr Timo Husu
Motiva Oy, tel. +358 40 512 0305
Communications Manager Kirsi-Maaria Forssell
Motiva Oy, tel. +358 400 464 787
The Lahti Declaration of the Energy Audit ´06 Conference published on the Energy Audit´06 website: http://www.audit06.fi
