Abstract:
Saving energy is a key point and is the first
basic component for achieving a sustainable energy
supply. Saving energy contributes to environmental
objectives, reduces the energy bill, improves the
competitiveness of Dutch businesses, and boosts
employment.There are numerous opportunities for
achieving significant energy savings in the built
environment. The basic principle is that individuals and
businesses have an interest themselves in saving energy
and will shoulder responsibility for doing so. A
combination has therefore been chosen of information
provision, awareness-raising, reducing the burden, and
funding support. Industry, agriculture, and the
commercial sector as a whole see increased energy
efficiency as an opportunity to boost the competitiveness
of energy-intensive businesses, to create employment,
and to achieve climate objectives in a costeffective
manner. The energy-intensive sector of industry aims to
become an international leader in energy efficiency. An
independent centre of expertise will be set up to assist
businesses and funding bodies in identifying the most
effective measures in the area of energy efficiency in
industry and agriculture. Cities today have the
opportunity and the means to provide sustainable
services and quality of life to their citizens. Urban areas
account for more than half the world’s population, as
well as 65% of global energy demand and 70% of
energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Cities,
therefore, need to take action to meet the rising needs of
their populations while maintaining a healthy living
environment, combatting poverty and avoiding
catastrophic climate change. Romania has an important
potential of renewable energy resources and has
introduced a functional mechanism for supporting their
development based on a system of mandatory quotas for
electricity, combined with trading a number of green
certificates, but all the costs are transferred to the
consumers.This system may carry an overcompensation
for the investors and also an excessive burden on the
consumers. Most investments were made in wind and
hydro, the fewest in solar and biomass. While the
potential for renewables is high, it varies greatly
depending on each city’s characteristics. Population
density, growth prospects and demand profiles in cold
versus hot climates all shape the opportunities to
introduce renewables, including the vast growth
potential for uses in urban buildings and transport.
Accordingly, deployment strategies must be tailored to
technology options and enabling policy frameworks for
each city.
