Standards for Energy Efficiency
The transition to a low-carbon economy is well underway. In late 2019, the European Commission introduced the ‘European Green Deal for the European Union and its citizens' outlining an ambitious vision to transform the EU into a fair and prosperous society with a modern, resource-efficient, and competitive economy. A key objective of this initiative is to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
This goal, while challenging, has garnered strong commitment from European governments, organizations, businesses, and citizens. Achieving it requires a fundamental rethinking of how we produce and consume energy, how infrastructure operates, how resources are utilized, and how transportation systems function. The modernization of the EU economy, alongside the development of secure, affordable, and sustainable energy systems, necessitates infrastructure renewal and the adoption of innovative technologies.
European standards play a crucial role in this transformation. They serve as adaptable tools to enhance safety and performance, improve energy efficiency, and protect consumers, workers, and the environment. By defining clear testing methods and robust criteria, standards help eliminate barriers to adopting environmentally friendly technologies and materials, preventing misleading environmental claims. Furthermore, they support sustainable finance by integrating technical requirements with due diligence processes, underwriting procedures for financial institutions, and disclosure of financial and non-financial data.
CEN and CENELEC have extensive experience collaborating with industry partners, the European Commission, and other stakeholders to develop standards that facilitate a cleaner and more sustainable energy system.
Standardization is vital in helping the EU achieve its energy and climate targets by promoting best practices, enhancing energy efficiency and safety, and optimizing energy installations and systems.
CEN-CENELEC JTC 14 ‘Energy management and energy efficiency in the framework of energy transition’
CEN-CLC/JTC 14 develops standards in the area of energy management, efficiency and transition to achieve Net Zero. It liaises with CEN-CLC Coordination Groups (COG) and Chairs of EU funded projects to identify the need for new standard development and to connect EN/ISO standards with Sustainable Finance Requirements such as Taxonomy CSRD, ESRS, CSDDD disclosures.
The strategic intent of JTC 14 is to provide a series of independent but integrated and synergetic tools to de-risk systemic energy performance improvement projects and energy transition plans. The desired outcome is to operationalize the energy efficiency first principle for the relevant stakeholders (undertaking organizations, product and service suppliers, financial institutions and policy makers) throughout the supply chain.
For standard development JTC 14 strives to gather experts representing all relevant stakeholders with the aim to embed innovation, simplicity, transparency, completeness and materiality.
In addition, JTC 14 offers NSBs and policy makers the framework to evaluate market needs & trends for possible standardizations activities.
Equality Platform for the Energy sector
On 13 September 2022, CEN and CENELEC formally joined the Equality Platform for the Energy Sector, reinforcing their commitment to promoting equal opportunities within the European energy industry.
Established by the European Commission in 2021, this platform provides a dedicated space for discussing equality-related issues, sharing best practices, and fostering concrete actions to advance gender equality in the sector. Diversity and inclusion are critical for achieving fairness in business, politics, and society, and the energy industry is no exception.
By signing the Declaration of the Equality Platform for the Energy Sector, CEN and CENELEC, along with other stakeholders, pledge to work collaboratively toward actionable initiatives that contribute to gender equality and inclusivity in the energy sector.
As one outcome of the Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, the European Commission adopted the Roadmap for Women’s Rights on 7 March 2025. The Roadmap outlines a long-term vision for achieving gender equality, based on core principles and policy objectives set out in the Declaration of principles for a gender-equal society. It aims to uphold and advance women’s rights and to address new gender equality challenges, the Commission invites relevant stakeholders to take an active role in realising the Roadmap’s principles and objectives, and put forward measures at the appropriate level.
