Title: Energy consumption in the Federal Republic of Germany: scope for policies

Authors: Uwe Wullkopf

Addresses: Director, Institut Wohnen und Umwelt, Darmstadt, West Germany

Abstract: Among energy policy objectives, environmental protection receives nowadays an increasing priority in the Federal Republic of Germany - this is, however, less manifest in the existing legislation and supply and demand structure than in declarations of parties and interest groups, and particularly in two government commission reports. To achieve the environmental objectives more successfully, emphasis needs to be laid particularly on how technological and economic policies can lead to energy savings. The potential for such savings is now very large, but is not being achieved. It could be successfully achieved if a tax on the consumption of non-renewable primary energy were introduced, if a system of local energy consumption advice were established, and if standards were raised. However, such actions would seem promising only if an international consensus were reached on giving a high priority to environmental objectives among energy policy goals, particularly among European Community countries.

Keywords: consumer advice; energy conservation; energy consumption; energy policy; Federal Republic of Germany; legislation; environmental protection; government reports; international consensus.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.1989.063696

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 1989 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.35-39

Published online: 19 Jul 2014 *

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