Norway Report Calls For 50% Cut In Buildings Energy Use

June 25, 2009

LONDON -(Dow Jones)- An energy efficiency committee in Norway has recommended halving energy use in buildings by 2040, the country’s oil and energy ministry said Thursday.

The committed said it is possible to gradually reduce energy use in buildings from the current level of 80 terawatt-hours to 70 TWh in 2020, 55 TWh in 2030 and 40 TWh in 2040 through a combination of upgrading existing buildings and creating stricter regulations for new buildings.

Oil and Energy Minister Terje Riis-Johansen (photo) said the recommendations provide a good basis for further work on energy efficiency and said a key contribution to cutting energy use will be improving residential buildings.