BOULDER, Colo. — During the past five years, the number of energy efficiency polices around the world has continued to increase, notes Navigant Research. While policies vary by region and country, and with more developed nations taking more stringent approaches, a lack of enforcement remains a significant barrier to implementation in many places. According to a new report from the research firm, increased regulation of policies, codes, and benchmarking must be enforced for successful policy reform.

“Globally, governments and regulatory agencies have increased their focus on commercial buildings, which are large consumers of the world’s energy,” said Krystal Maxwell, research associate with Navigant Research. “Europe is a leader among world regions in energy efficiency policy, with the most rigorous building codes, performance standards, labeling, and benchmarking, as well as some of the most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.”

In particular, the European Union’s energy efficiency regulations require member states to create and enforce their own internal policies, which has forced member states to proactively address energy efficiency in buildings and create their own policies. Globally, according to the report, other drivers for increased policy creation include events like the Paris Climate Summit and independent organizations working to create labeling and benchmark requirements.

An executive summary of the report is available here.

Publication date: 6/8/2016

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