The ESD provides a general framework for measurement and verification of energy savings (Annex IV). In Annex IV the ESD demands from the Commission to provide harmonised bottom-up model before 1 January 2008. Since this harmonised model had not been developed until the date foreseen by the Directive, the Austrian Ministry of Economy decided to assign the Austrian Energy Agency with developing bottom-up methods for the calculation of energy savings.

However, in order to assess the progress made towards achieving energy savings objectives and to focus the resources on the promotion of the most effective energy efficient improvement measures and programmes, a harmonised framework to measure, verify and report is still indispensable. To that end, the Commission has proposed a harmonised measurement framework that in the first half of 2009 is discussed in the Energy Demand Management Committee (EDMC). According to Article 15 of the ESD, the Commission shall, with the assistance of a Committee, refine and complement the general measurement framework, in order to facilitate reporting of energy savings.
 
The following pages provide an overview of the bottom-up methods for the calculation of energy savings developed in Austria for the Federal Ministry within a participatory process.