Is final energy consumption becoming more efficient?

Policy Question

Indicator codes: ENER 037

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Key messages

(21 Jan 2019)

Over the period 1990-2016, the energy efficiency of end-use sectors improved by 30 % in the EU-28 countries at an annual average rate of 1.4 %/year.

These improvements were driven by improvements in the industry sector (1.8 %/year) and the households sector (1.6 %/year). However, half of the efficiency gains achieved through technological innovation in the household sector were offset by the increasing number of electrical appliances and by larger homes.

The rates of improvement were lower in the transport sector (0.9 %/year) and services sector (1.1 %/year).

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