The Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved a series of binding measures to help implement the overall 20% target. MEPs want Member States to make concrete plans for achieving energy savings of 80% in the buildings sector by 2050.

MEPs at the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy approved the report which contains a series of amendments to the Energy Efficiency Directive (EED) proposed by the European Commission on 22 June 2011. In particular, the Committee voted for a series of binding measures to help implement the overall 20% target. The Commission has estimated that the EU will only achieve half of its current non-binding EU target of achieving 20% primary energy savings in 2020 if no measures are taken.

The draft proposal would require to EU Member States to set themselves binding national energy efficiency targets, and save energy by specific means such as renovating public buildings. MEPs also gave its support for the setting aside of European Union Emissions Trading scheme (EU ETS) allowances. This would allow the European Commission to cut the supply of carbon permits from the 2013-to-2020 phase of the EU ETS.

According to the European Commission, energy efficiency can help boost the EU's economy by reducing dependence on imported goods, creating jobs, freeing up financial resources, boosting competitiveness, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.