In 2008, faced with the challenges of global climate change, security of energy supply and the increasing scarcity of natural resources, the European Union (EU) committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20%1, pledged to ensure that 20% of EU final energy consumption would come from renewable energy sources, and called for a reduction in energy use across Europe by 20%. The targets for emissions and renewable energy sources were made legally binding; the EU is on track to achieve these targets. The commitment to save 20% of energy was not made legally binding and as a result, as it stands today, the EU is expected to achieve only 9% of its targets by 20202, not even 50% of its energy savings goal.