MEPs vote through an ambitious programme to make Europe use energy more efficiently – and save up to €50 billion a year.

Energy efficiency: billions in savings

The EU could save €50 billion a year  if energy consumption could be cut by 20%.

That's as well as saving the environment.

The Parliament has voted through  measures that should help,

even if they don't go as far  as many MEPs would have liked.

The directive is not at all perfect  but it's a big step.

For the first time we have a legal framework  that obliges the Member States

and everywhere in Europe we need to have  support schemes now for energy efficiency.

The new directive will oblige governments  to renovate 3% of their buildings' floor area,

although they can opt for  equivalent savings instead.

Energy companies covered must set targets  and large companies face an energy audit.

The aim is to reduce the costs  to consumers, not let them rise.

People cannot afford  the fuel prices they have.

They also can't afford to live  without any energy at all.

It's no good to just switch off the lights  and the heating and say 'freeze'.

So how can you help people to save energy  and therefore save money?

The EU's bill for imported energy  comes to nearly €500 billion, 3.9% of GDP,

and it's especially hard  for states with a debt crisis.

The directive should help reduce that and  it could potentially tackle unemployment.

The only motivation for me to support  this issue is the creation of new jobs.

Two million new jobs is my motivation  to support this directive.

but the end result should be to save  the EU and its citizens money