is a methodology to break down energy consumption data into their component parts in the same way as those which are due to annual weather fluctuations, business cycle, structural changes in the economy and higher energy efficiency. This methodology is applied for the first time to all twelve Member Countries of the European Communities for the period 1979 to 1985. It represents a tool for a long-term monitoring of the efforts towards the goal set by the Council of Ministers of the European Community to achieve a 20% improvement in intensity of final energy demand between 1985 and 1995. In addition, it is used by the Commission of the European Communities for considerations regarding energy conservation policies for the Community. The results of the analysis performed showed that the goal set by the Council cannot be reached if the current trends prevail in the years to come. The reasons are the declining impact of structural changes towards less energy-intensive production and the increasing level of energy-consuming comfort in the residential and private transportation sectors.weiterlesen