SAVING ENERGY THROUGH THE USE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES TO LOW CARBON CITIES

Abstract

In the field of energy, Europe is facing challenges such as high import dependence, low diversification, high and volatile energy prices, growing global energy demand, security risks affecting producer and transit countries, growing threats from climate change, insufficient energy efficiency, as well as an increasing share of renewable energy sources (RES). Climate change has been identified as one of the biggest challenges, and European energy policy is increasingly focused on tackling this threat, advocating for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially CO2 emissions. The European Parliament wants the new energy policy to support the goal of reducing GHG emissions in the EU by 55% until 2030 and achieving a zero net emission rate by 2050. In the total world energy consumption, cities participate with over two thirds, and more than 75% of all GHG emissions come from cities. In the cities themselves, buildings are one of the biggest sources of CO2 emissions. The EU directive on energy efficiency of buildings sets the goal that by 2050 the housing stock fund has zero CO2 emissions. Thus, the goal is low-carbon cities, and the path to the goal may be the use of RES in cities. The paper uses examples from the world and Serbia to analyze how the use of RES leads to low-carbon cities.