UK energy bills continue to rise because of increases in international gas prices and declining UK gas production. European energy security is of increasing concern because of the large amount of gas supplied by Russia. Efficiency measures can dramatically reduce UK energy use, limit cost rises and reduce reliance on imports, reducing exposure to supply shocks.

Where the EU has led on setting efficiency standards, it has achieved significant savings. The review of the Energy Efficiency Directive, which begins in June 2014, is an opportunity to use the single market and existing directives to do this.

This policy insight highlights the case for making greater use of the EU’s direction and standard setting role to reduce European energy use and UK energy bills, and identifies three important actions for the UK in driving the change.