As a member of the European community, the UK could sign up to mandatory energy efficiency targets if proposals go ahead.
Energy commissioner Andris Piebalgs commented recently that the European Commission is considering establishing goals to enhance the European Union's energy performance.
"I really consider seriously to propose binding target instruments," he said during a webcast news conference of energy and environment ministers in Sweden.
"I believe that it is time and the political temperature is ripe enough that we really consider it," he added.
However, Sweden's energy minister Maud Olofsson commented that the suggestion could bring about problems with measuring and following up such targets.
Last year, the European Parliament approved plans to cut emissions by 2020 to levels 20 per cent lower than they were in 1990.
The goal could be reached in part through consumers fitting their homes with energy-efficient measures such as
insulation, potentially also helping them save money on
gas and electricity bills.
