Vienna, December 12, 2011 - An online survey of 425 energy-related businesses, NGOs, academics, and national and local government officials from around the world concludes that buildings offer the greatest potential for energy efficiency (EE) at the national level.

The survey, conducted by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) International Secretariat also concluded the international community must develop common measuring and reporting methods for energy efficiency of buildings. 

Two-thirds of all stakeholders believe buildings offer the greatest potential for energy efficiency (EE) at the national level. Consumer behaviour and transport are also seen to have major energy savings potential, but significantly less so than buildings.

At the national level, stakeholders see labelling and building codes as the most effective policy tools for promoting EE in the near term. Utilities are also seen as critical players, both in increasing their own efficiency and in stimulating savings with consumers.

Respondents see the lack of political will and the related lack of EE incentives as the greatest barriers to EE at the national level. These are closely interlinked with other barriers such as the relatively low price of consumer fossil fuels, and the issue of split incentives where the investor is not the one to benefit from reduced energy costs.

Energy stakeholders worldwide see international processes as critical in order to:

• exchange best practices in EE policy
• develop common methodologies for measuring and reporting
• set EE targets alongside those for emission reduction

Survey respondents hailed from 87 countries, with the top five countries being India (8.2% of respondents), US (6.3%), Germany (5.6%), South Africa (4.3%), and Australia (4.3%).

The full results summary of the survey can be downloaded here: Global Energy Efficiency Stakeholder Survey - October 2011

The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) is an active, global partnership that works to reduce the barriers limiting the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, with a primary focus on emerging markets and developing countries.