The Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle has recently been placed onto the political agenda in the European Union (EU). While the general rationale for EE1st is described in EU legislation and supporting literature, a common understanding of the principle’s implications for energy-related planning, investment, and policymaking is still missing. Based on an exploratory review of the literature, the objective of this article is to improve the theoretical understanding of EE1st. First, it develops a conceptual framework, describing EE1st as a decision-making principle that prioritises demand-side resources over supply-side alternatives whenever these provide greater value to society in meeting decision objectives. Second, it highlights the unique aspects of EE1st by systematically comparing the principle with associated concepts, such as Integrated Resource Planning. Third, it provides theoretical justification for EE1st by describing the economic rationale behind the principle. Fourth, it outlines policy considerations for its practical implementation. In sum, the EE1st principle is shown to have a compelling theoretical background that can help inform the design of effective policy interventions in order to move from principle to practice.

International audienceThis paper deals with a physics-based assessment of renewable energy potential in Europe, particularly solar and wind energy sources, using two literature models. A sensibility analysis with the weather data is first done. Actual temperature, pressure, relative humidity, global radiation and wind speed data are employed to develop energy and exergy maps for Europe, based on iso-areas of land-use. These maps are compared with similar existing ones. A good agreement is obtained. A paradoxical result is found for wind exergy efficiency. The yearly average exergy efficiency where wind speed is less than 5 m/s is greater than that where wind speed is greater than 7 m/s. This can be explained by the 'dome' shape of wind exergy efficiency. A solar efficiency map for Europe is also developed to serve as a useful guide for choosing a renewable energy form based on yearly energy production

The Energy End-use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive (ESD) of the European Union requires the member states to define and attain an overall target of at least 9% annual energy savings between 2008 and 2016. Even if this target is indicative, this is the first international framework mandating countries to report on their energy savings results and prove achievement of their targets. The directive thus also required the development of harmonised calculation methods that can be used by member states for this proof and reporting. Existing literature covers most of the usual issues related to energy savings evaluation, but mostly looking at single, given energy efficiency programmes or policies. The evaluation objective for the ESD implementation is different, as it aims at accounting for the whole energy savings achieved in a country. Moreover, one of the main difficulties is the diversity in history and experience on this topic among the member states. In this context, the European project Energy Efficiency (2012) 5:19-35 EMEEES has worked out an integrated system of bottom-up and top-down methods for the measurement of energy savings. The paper presents the overview of its final results. The proposals, inter alia, include 20 bottom-up and 14 top-down case applications of general evaluation methods. They enable more than 90% of the potential energy savings to be measured and reported. They were used as a starting point by the European Commission to develop the methods recently recommended to the member states. Furthermore, the paper briefly discusses the importance of the quantity to be measured-all or additional energy savings-and the effect of measures implemented before the entering into force of the ESD ('early action'), and what this meant for the methods to be developed. It compares the main elements of calculation needed to ensure consistent results between bottom-up and top-down methods at the overall national level. Finally, general conclusions are drawn about what could be the next steps in developing an evaluation system that enables a high degree of comparability of results between different countries.

The project objective is to develop an optimized methodology to assess the environmental impacts of urban mobility plans (UMP, in French PDU), taking into account their social and economic consequences. The main proposed methodology is based on a systemic approach: multi-factor (air quality, noise, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emission) numerical simulations with a chain of physically-based models, based on alternative and comparative scenarios. The social and economic consequences of these alternative simulations are assessed by means of econometric models. Two alternative approaches are explored: (i) the use of composite environmental indicators to correlate the sources to the impacts, especially