The German Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy launched a process of consultation in summer 2016 on its Green Paper on Energy Efficiency. The dialogue process was implemented to bring forward recommendations for a White Paper on Energy Efficiency setting out a medium to long-term efficiency strategy for Germany.

In order to reduce energy consumption in Germany, the green paper discusses, amongst others, energy efficiency first, the importance of the European legislation on energy efficiency and the role of energy efficiency for the energy system with a particular focus on sector integration. In its response to the consultation (ending on October 31), BPIE stressed the importance of energy efficiency first. For its practical application, the principle needs, however, further guidance. In addition, BPIE argues that sector integration will have to take into account a buildings perspective, if it is to be cost-efficiently implemented and aims at securing the economy’s innovative capacity.