Changing Consumption Patterns

 
Status Report:     NATIONAL POLICY OBJECTIVES / FOCUS

In accordance with the European Union's 5th Environmental Action Programme (Towards Sustainability), Greece aims to adjust its policies in order to avoid abuse and exhaustion of natural resources. Policies address issues of waste reduction, the use of water, traffic and transportation issues and energy consumption. A national and sectoral review on consumption and production patterns was held to identify possibilities for waste reduction. National awareness programmes have been initiated on consumption and production issues.

The Hellenic Action Plan for the Abatement of CO2 and other Greenhouse Gas Emissions is based on a drastic energy conservation policy in all sectors of final consumption (industry, transport, commercial and domestic sector), as well as on the use of Natural Gas in the National Energy system and the promotion of the Renewable Energy Sources.

The Energy Programme (1994-1999) launched by the Ministry for Development, promotes energy efficiency, rational use of energy, use of renewable energy sources and the use of natural gas (total budget: 566,300 kECU). The introduction of natural gas in the national energy system is a major infrastructure project. According to the programme of the Public Gas Corporation, the total absorption of natural gas will reach by 2005 3.5 billion Nm3 (1.5 billion Nm3 for electricity generation, 1.0 billion Nm3 for industrial uses and 1.0 billion Nm3 for the needs of domestic and other sectors).

The Energy Operational Programme of the Ministry for Development is mainly orientated towards energy efficiency projects financing. Financing methods are now under legal regulation, such as Technology Performance Financing or Third Party Financing, and are expected to facilitate even more energy production and energy efficiency as well as environmentally-friendly technologies transfer and introduction.

 
The Public Power Corporation is applying specific policies for environmental protection and improvement of energy efficiency:

  • commission of natural gas generating units
  • development of the country's hydropotential
  • exploitation of renewable energy sources (wind, geothermal and solar energy)
  • energy conservation and improvement of the efficiency of existing installations
  • new combustion technologies are examined
  • awareness raising programme for energy saving and rational use of energy

The National Action Plan for Energy Conservation in the Built Environment, named «Energy 2001», carried out by the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works, intends to change the existing production and consumption patterns, through the promotion of building construction techniques and services aiming at energy conservation and the integration of renewable energy technologies. The Action Plan is to be applied through a specific legislation, concerning an Incentive policy for energy saving measures in the existing buildings (heating, cooling, DHW and lighting) as well as policies, policy instruments, measures and new standards concerning new buildings.

The Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works/ Directorate of Shelter Policy and Housing promotes pilot programmes aiming at the rational use and management of natural resources, the energy conservation, and sustainable development of human settlements:

  1. construction of a model settlement for civil servants in Santorini island, according to Bioclimatic-House construction principles
  2. co-funding of photovoltaic systems programme of solar energy transformation in electric energy at Donousa and Sifnos islands
  3. funding of the First (model) Ecological-Bioclimatic Building
Our country has harmonized with the European Community regulation 880/92 which introduced an Eco-Label Award Scheme, by the Joint Ministerial Resolution 86644/2482/1993. The Ministerial Resolution established a Supreme Board for Awarding Ecological labels within the Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works. This Supreme Board, named ASAOS, provides information to the business community and consumers, organises international meetings and has undertaken the task for establishing criteria with the support of the Commission of the European Communities for the following:
  1. Greece is the lead-country for the establishment of criteria concerning the product group «bed mattresses» for the European Eco-Label, in cooperation with France.
  2. Greece runs a pilot project concerning «Touristic Services» for the European Eco-Label with the cooperation of France. The project includes the definition of the product/service group and the setting of specific criteria.
  3. Greece developed a «Communication Strategy» Programme to inform the industry, consumers, business and interested groups about the performance of the Eco-Label scheme in Greece.
ASAOS organised the third General Assembly of the Global Eco-label Network which took place in the island of Skyros, Greece, on the 6th and 7th of July 1995.

 
NATIONAL TARGETS

According to the Energy Programme (1994-1999), the expected annual energy saving at the end of the programme is 700 kTOE (energy efficiency, use of natural gas) and the expected substitution of primary energy at the end of the programme is 200kTOE (renewable energy sources).

 

 
Cross-Sectoral Issues:     DECISION - MAKING STRUCTURE:

Law 2244/94 enables «independent» aside from the «self-sufficient» producers to use renewables for the generation of electricity, improves the rate at which the KWH is purchased by the Public Power Corporation and ensures long term contracts for the «independent» and «self-sufficient» producers. Ministerial Decision YBET 8295/95 regulates the issue of the corresponding licenses.

Law 2234/94 promotes operational industry projects, where energy efficiency is included in the target investments. According to Law 1512/85 which provides incentives for energy conservation, the Greek legislation is currently harmonised with the European Directive SAVE (93/76/EC) for the stabilisation of CO2 emissions and energy efficiency of buildings.

 
The Ministry for the Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works promotes:

  • The new Building Regulation which is being harmonised with the law for the Protection of the Environment and the law for the promotion of Renewable Energy Sources.
  • The harmonisation of the Planning Law with the principles of Sustainable Development.

 
CAPACITY-BUILDING/TECHNOLOGY ISSUES:

Training and information dissemination programmes are being carried out in the framework of the legislation for Energy Conservation in the Built Environment promoted by the Ministry for the Environment:

  • Organisation of seminars, meetings etc. aiming at the information and training of special interested groups (public, engineers, technicians etc.).
  • Participation in environmental education programmes such as the programme "Ecological Schools". Provision of scientific support, printed material, implementation of pilot projects.
  • Dissemination of the environmental policy principles aiming at raising awareness and promoting participation of interested groups and the public. Eg. voluntary employment of young people in projects using traditional construction materials and technics in different regions of Greece.

 

MAJOR GROUPS:

  1. The National Action Plan for Energy Conservation was carried out with the participation of recognised bodies, representatives of Greek Universities and Research Centres.
  2. Several major groups, industry organizations, unions, NGOs and consumer groups, participate in the Supreme Board for Awarding Ecological Labels.

 
REGIONAL/INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:

Greece cooperates with the other EU member states for the dissemination and promotion of renewable energy sources as well as energy efficiency projects. The Ministry for Development tries to incorporate and promote the EU programmes such as ALTENER, SAVE, JOULE-THERMIE, SYNERGY, TACIS, PHARE Research and Development Programmes and new policies like MEDA or the Energy Charter Treaty.

 
 
INDICATORS
STATISTICAL DATA / INDICATORS
  1985 1990 1992 1995 1996 1997 1998
GDP per capita (current US$) 4,000 8,219 9,497 10,909 11,668 12,342 13,160
Real GDP growth (%) 3.1 -0.1 0.9        
Annual energy consumption per capita (Kg. of oil equivalent per capita) 2,209(a) 2,160 2,269        
Motor vehicles in use per 1000 inhabitants 189.5 249.7 272.4(b)        
a1989   b1993

 

 
Government policies affecting consumption and production

Goals/Agents Producers Local authorities Central Government Households Civil society
Material efficiency v   v    
Energy efficiency: v v v    
Transport     v   v
Housing     v v v
Other     v    
Waste:          
Reduce   v v    
Reuse   v v    
Recycle   v v    
The (v) indicates those agents which the Government's policies are meant most to influence.

 

 

 Agents Means & Measures Producers Local authorities Central Government Households Civil Society
Improving understanding and analysis          
Information and education (e.g., radio/TV/press)   R R I R
Research     R    
Evaluating environmental claims R   R    
Form partnerships   R R   R
Applying tools for modifying behaviour          
Community based strategies     R I I
Social incentives/disincentives (e.g., ecolabelling) I   R    
Regulatory instruments I   R   I
Economic incentives/disincentives I   R I I
Voluntary agreements of producer responsibility for aspects of product life cycle R   R   R
Provision of enabling facilities and infrastructure (e.g., transportation alternatives, recycling)   R R   I
Procurement policy I   R I I
Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing performance          
Action campaign R   R   I
Other (specify)          
The ® indicates those agents who assume primary responsibility for any of the policy measures indicated
The (I) indicates the agents for which the impact is expected to be especially significant