A timeline of change
Israel’s Energy Resources Act of 1989 mandated that by June 2011 the government must produce a national energy efficiency program with annual progress reports and incentives for publicly funded institutions. No program was created until 2016, when Adam Teva V’Din’s High Court petition forced the issue. In 2017 our recommendations, emphasizing a ‘Negawatts’ approach, stirred the Ministry of Energy to begin designing a long-term energy efficiency program. The discovery of Israel’s offshore gas reserves, however, made energy efficiency a low priority for the government, until now.
Public event launches the new National Energy Efficiency Plan
Adam Teva V’Din joined the Ministry of Energy, the Association of Green Energy Companies in Israel, and the Institute for Local Government at Tel Aviv University, in hosting a public forum to discuss the proposed plan, including key details, so far undisclosed, such as implementation, outcomes and budgeting. At the meeting, Dr. Vanger presented Adam Teva V’Din’s core principles for success:
- Real Energy Savings, Not Just Efficiency: Achieving actual reductions in energy use rather than mere improvements in appliance performance.
- Initiative Projects at the Source: Implementing models such as the Nega-watt approach, where every kilowatt-hour saved is energy never produced.
- Budgeting Through Tariff Regulations: Leveraging the Electricity Authority to incorporate energy efficiency projects into national budgets.
Energy Efficiency First
As a relentless advocate for energy efficiency, Dr. Vanger reminds us that, “Energy Efficiency First is more than a slogan; it’s a strategic imperative.” His initiative, combined with Adam Teva V’Din’s series of legal actions, has spurred the Ministry of Energy into close cooperation with diverse stakeholders. Dr. Vanger adds:
“We will continue to partner with the Ministry of Energy and the focused working groups on energy efficiency in transportation, industry, households, etc., as the framework for developing a national plan of achievable goals.”
