According to a BBC article on 23^rd July 2014, EU member states will boost their energy efficiency by 30% by 2030. The commissioners themselves assessed this decision as ambitious but realistic. The European leaders will judge if the new goal should be legally binding when they meet in October according to the news channel.

Based on projections made in 2007 for 2030, some may argue this target is less ambitious than what it should be and others may regard this as an appropriate level. More important is how detailed blue prints are to be contained to materialize the achievement of this target as some of which have already been touted by the Commission. For example, the statement spells out that "New buildings across the EU now use half the energy they did in the 1980s... Industry is about 19% less energy intensive than it was in 2001."

This announcement will likely have a huge impact to the industry and people's life. Taking this as a signal for potential growth of green businesses, investments and businesses will be encouraged into the green technology and energy efficiency fronts. This may also lead to innovative financing mechanism to channel more public and private capitals into the profitable green investment opportunities. This will certainly prompt broader and deeper recognition of the importance of energy saving by the general public.

All told, this new policy will forge significant challenges and opportunities at the same time. More business opportunities in infrastructure including on mass transportation, green building and renewable energy generation will be created. However, people may have hard time adjusting to energy saving mode or daily lives and greener approaches of transportation such as railways instead of personal cars. How these challenges and opportunities will unfold remains to be seen. However, one thing clear is the EU is on right track to fight against climate change and environmental protection.