The Energy Efficiency First (EE1st) principle has been adopted in the EU legislation as part of the Governance Regulation (EU)2018/1999, first with a strong link with the National Energy and Climate Plans. Since 2018, the revisions of EU laws dealing with energy have all introduced a reference to the EE1st principle. The new Energy Efficiency Directive (EU)2023/1791 clarifies that it is an overarching principle for all planning, policies and major investments having an impact on energy consumption.
More specifically about the local level, Article 25(6) of the EED states that the newly required local heating and cooling plans should “be compliant with the energy efficiency first principle”. Similarly, updating the alignment of the SECAPs (Sustainable Energy and Climate Plans) with the EU policy framework should consider the integration of EE1st in the methodology and process used to prepare or revise SECAPs. This is now included in the new guidebook for SECAPs published by the Covenant of Mayors in June 2025.
This case is among the practical cases investigated in the ENEFIRST Plus project. The general approach is to start from the current practices and framework (e.g. the guidelines for SECAPs) to identify what could be adapted or complemented to align with the EE1st principle in a way that benefits to all stakeholders. EE1st should not be implemented as another layer of redtape, but as a change of mindset to address the challenges of decarbonizing the energy system looking for the options the most beneficial to the society.
This webinar discusses the implications of integrating EE1st in the process of SECAPs, sharing experience about how it can be done, through the feedback from the pilot case done by ENEA and the municipality of Naples.
Presentations
The new guidelines for SECAPs, by Giulia Melica (Joint Research Centre)
From theory to practice: the experience of the municipality of Naples, by Maria Iaccarino (Municipality of Naples) and Mattia Federico Leone (Federico II University of Naples)