Diagrams

Videos

Why is Energy Efficiency Important?

Energy has emerged as a critical economic issue and top priority for policymakers. Unsustainable energy supply and demand have serious implications for everything from household budgets to international relations. Buildings are on the front line of this issue because of their high consumption of energy. Studies have repeatedly shown that efficient buildings and appropriate land use offer opportunities to save money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The current worldwide mix of energy resources is weighted heavily toward oil, coal, and natural gas.In addition to emitting greenhouse gases, these resources are nonrenewable: their quantities are limited or they cannot be replaced as fast as they are consumed.Though estimates regarding the remaining quantity of these resources vary, it is clear that the current reliance on nonrenewable energy sources is not sustainable and involves increasingly destructive extraction processes, uncertain supplies, escalating market prices, and national security vulnerability. Accounting for approximately 40% of the total energy used today, buildings are significant contributors to these problems.

What are strategies that increase energy efficiency?

• Address the envelope. Use the regionally appropriate amount of insulation in the walls and roof and install high-performance glazing to minimize unwanted heat gain or loss. Make sure that the building is properly weatherized.
• Install high-performance mechanical systems and appliances. Apply life cycle assessment to the trade-offs between capital and operating costs, and evaluate investments in energy efficiency technologies. Appliances that meet or exceed ENERGY STAR requirements will reduce plug load demands.
• Use high-efficiency infrastructure. Efficient street lighting and LED traffic signals will reduce energy demands from neighborhood infrastructure.
• Capture efficiencies of scale. Design district heating and cooling systems, in which multiple buildings are part of a single loop.
• Use energy simulation. Computer modeling can identify and prioritize energy efficiency opportunities.
• Monitor and verify performance. Ensure that the building systems are functioning as designed and support the owner’s project requirements through control systems, a building automation system, and commissioning and retrocommissioning.

Domestic Energy Consumption

Energy efficiency has proved to be a cost-effective strategy for building economies without necessarily increasing energy consumption. For example, the state of California began implementing energy-efficiency measures in the mid-1970s, including building code and appliance standards with strict efficiency requirements. During the following years, California's energy consumption has remained approximately flat on a per capita basis while national US consumption doubled. As part of its strategy, California implemented a "loading order" for new energy resources that puts energy efficiency first, renewable electricity supplies second, and new fossil-fired power plants last. States such as Connecticut and New York have created quasi-public Green Banks to help residential and commercial building-owners finance energy efficiency upgrades that reduce emissions and cut consumers' energy costs.

Lovin's Rocky Mountain Institute points out that in industrial settings, "there are abundant opportunities to save 70% to 90% of the energy and cost for lighting, fan, and pump systems; 50% for electric motors; and 60% in areas such as heating, cooling, office equipment, and appliances." In general, up to 75% of the electricity used in the US today could be saved with efficiency measures that cost less than the electricity itself. The same holds true for this is home and there is 78% of electricity uses D in your home-owners, leaky ducts have remained an invisible energy culprit for years. In fact, researchers at the US Department of Energy and their consortium, Residential Energy Efficient Distribution Systems (REEDS) have found that duct efficiency may be as low as 50–70%. The US Department of Energy has stated that there is potential for energy saving in the magnitude of 90 Billion kWh by increasing home energy efficiency.

Other studies have emphasized this. A report published in 2006 by the McKinsey Global Institute, asserted that "there are sufficient economically viable opportunities for energy-productivity improvements that could keep global energy-demand growth at less than 1 percent per annum"—less than half of the 2.2 percent average growth anticipated through 2020 in a business-as-usual scenario. Energy productivity, which measures the output and quality of goods and services per unit of energy input, can come from either reducing the amount of energy required to produce something, or from increasing the quantity or quality of goods and services from the same amount of energy.

The Vienna Climate Change Talks 2007 Report, under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), clearly shows "that energy efficiency can achieve real emission reductions at low cost."

International standards ISO 17743 and ISO 17742 provide a documented methodology for calculating and reporting on energy savings and energy efficiency for countries and cities.

Efficient Energy Use

Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature. Installing fluorescent lights, LED lights or natural skylights reduces the amount of energy required to attain the same level of illumination compared with using traditional incandescent light bulbs. Improvements in energy efficiency are generally achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production process or by application of commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses.

There are many motivations to improve energy efficiency. Reducing energy use reduces energy costs and may result in a financial cost saving to consumers if the energy savings offset any additional costs of implementing an energy efficient technology. Reducing energy use is also seen as a solution to the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency, improved energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and help control global emissions of greenhouse gases.

Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the twin pillars of sustainable energy policy and are high priorities in the sustainable energy hierarchy. In many countries energy efficiency is also seen to have a national security benefit because it can be used to reduce the level of energy imports from foreign countries and may slow down the rate at which domestic energy resources are depleted.

How to Improve Energy-efficiency Rating?

1. Insulate your loft

Earlier this year, the Department for Energy and Climate Change claimed that UK homes wasted £500 million pumping heat into their homes that escaped through poorly insulated roofs and walls.
In fact, with decent insulation, each home could save £160 each on average every year, it claimed.
So, lay down some decent loft insulation and you’ll soon see a difference.

2. Upgrade your boiler

Did you know inefficient boilers could be adding more than £200 to your energy bills? That means that upgrading yours could be a great way to cut what you pay in the long term. It’s also a great way to dramatically reduce your home’s carbon emissions – boilers account for 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions in a gas heated home.

Boilers are rated on a scale of A to G, with A being the most energy efficient. If yours is at the lower end of the scale then investing in a new one could save you a packet over the long-term.

3. Hang thick curtains and insulate your doors

Sometimes, the simplest solutions are the best. Hanging thicker curtains over windows will prevent heat escaping and make your home much more snug, especially once the nights become longer.

You can also buy cheap stick-on insulation to run down the sides of drafty doors – it will all add up to a warmer home and lower bills.

4. Watch your energy consumption

Do you know how much energy you waste? Invest in an energy monitor – they cost around £30 but some gas and electricity companies give them to customers for free.

Put it somewhere your whole family can see it, like the kitchen. Some of these handy gadgets work out how much your energy use is costing, so that’s a really good reminder to cut back.

British Gas research shows that having a monitor helps families save as much as £110 a year simply by cutting back because they can actually see what they use.

5. Switch to a cheaper energy tariff

Make sure you find the cheapest energy deal for you – after all, you could use the savings to invest in making your home more energy efficient. There’s an exclusive deal with Scottish Power at the moment where if you switch to one of its dual fuel tariffs you could earn £70 cashback, so it’s a good time to consider moving.
 
One way householders can make a stand for the planet is by switching to a green energy tariff.
Many gas and electricity companies offer these kinds of tariffs, which mean that, for any power you use, they contribute energy from renewable sources to the grid.
You can compare green gas and electricity tariffs through our site but, bear in mind these are usually more expensive than standard tariffs.

6. Use a water-saving showerhead

We all know that baths can be wasteful and so a shower is a greener option, but just how green is your daily wash?

If you spend 20 minutes soaping yourself under a torrent of scalding water then you’re probably using more energy than you think. Some power showers use more water in five minutes than a whole bath.

By fitting a water saving showerhead, you’ll cut back on the amount of water and energy you use.

7. Fit double glazing

If you don’t yet have double glazing fitted, you’ll be amazed at the difference it can make to your annual energy bills.

Your initial investment will be fairly high but double-glazed windows will trap more heat inside your home, meaning they will save you money in the long term.

Double glazing is available in a variety of styles, so it doesn’t have to ruin the look of your home. When you are choosing your windows, look out for the ‘Energy Saving Trust recommended’ logo as this seal of approval is only given to the more efficient windows.

8. Invest in an eco kettle

Do you boil a whole kettleful of water each time you fancy one cup of tea? Kettles are incredibly wasteful but you can save on energy by only heating what you need and investing in an environmentally friendly alternative. Some eco kettles use as much as 30% less power.

In fact, it’s not just eco kettles that can help you save. Choosing appliances like TVs and fridges based on their energy efficiency can make a big difference. Which? says that the annual running costs for a fridge can vary from £13 to £92 a year – so finding the most efficient model is clearly a good idea.

9. Consider solar panels

Solar panels enable you to generate some of your own heat or power and even sell energy back to the National Grid with a feed-in tariff.

Some panels warm the water in your tanks by a small amount, reducing your overall bills.

But those with photovoltaic (PV) cells actually generate energy and the Energy Saving Trust thinks the average home can provide 40% of its power this way. If you’re generating energy at the wrong time of day for you to use, you can sell that back to grid and someone else will use it.

The average PV system costs £12,000, although it obviously depends on the amount you want to generate and the space you have for the panels.
Some companies are offering free solar panels in return for the income made through selling the energy to the grid. You get free energy through the panels, while any unused energy is sold and the proceeds given to the company.


Be very careful as it is early days for these schemes and there are some fraudsters taking advantage. However, for many people this could be a useful way to do their bit for the environment at no extra cost.

Solar panels work even when it’s cloudy, so don’t let the UK weather put you off.

10. Insulate your cavity walls

Uninsulated walls account for up to 33% of the heat lost in your home. Filling cavity walls could save you up to £180 a year and reduce carbon emissions by a tonne.

Of course, a job like this doesn’t come cheap – cavity wall insulation costs from £300 upwards depending on the size of your property – but there are grants available to help with the cost. Look under the ‘search for grants and offers’ section on the Energy Saving Trust website, which will tell you more about offers available in your area.

The size of grants may differ depending on your personal circumstances, age and geographical area, but they are not usually restricted to the elderly or those on low incomes.

Pictures

Examples of Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is the "low hanging fruit" of climate action. Energy efficiency covers a broad range of issues across all sectors of the economy. Overall costs of energy efficiency are generally low compared to other options. And many measures have low or negative net costs and short payback time.

Vending machines becoming more climate friendly. Photo credit: Coca-Cola

Here's an example from the business world that has been celebrated by the UNFCCC secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative. The Coca-Cola Company committed to dramatically reduce its carbon footprint by cutting energy consumption 40% by 2010, and will replace all of its vending machines that use hydrofluorocarbons with more environmentally friendly refrigerants by 2015.

Numerous examples of energy efficiency have already been discussed by the ADP, the negotiation stream tasked with designing an effective global climate change agreement in 2015 and ramping up immediate climate ambition.

According the UN Environment Programme's Emissions Gap Report 2012, the total mitigation potential in 2020 for buildings alone is within range of 1.4-2.9 Gigatonnes C02 equivalent. And the International Energy Agency says that by unlocking cost-effective energy efficiency options, cumulative global economic output would increase by USD 18 trillion by 2035. The greatest financial gains would be in India, China and Europe. But other parts of the world can benefit, too.

For example, in Ghana the implementation of minimum energy performance standards for air conditioners is expected to reduce emissions by around 2.8 C02 Megatonnes equivalent over 30 years and save consumers around USD 64 million annually in energy bills. And in Nepal, a CDM project helps reduce fuel consumption by introducing fuel efficient cooking stoves. Apart from reducing deforestation rates and GHG emissions, the project also improves the living conditions of the poor families through reduced indoor air pollution.

Photo credit: Centre for Rural Technology, Nepal

It's important to keep in mind that the introduction of innovative policies that put a price on carbon, such as emissions trading and carbon taxes are a major driver of energy efficiency. China has implemented several pilot projects and approaches to explore carbon market opportunities, with a view to implementing national carbon trading.

European Union plans to improve efficiency of new cars (95 g/km – 40% improvement compared to 2007) and vans (147 g/km – 28% improvement compared to 2007) from 2020 can result in saving users of such vehicles on average EUR 3-4 thousand in fuel costs over the lifetime of each such vehicle.

There are numerous co-benefits to taking climate action with the help of energy efficiency, not least through health benefits from the reduction of water and air pollution. For example, measures in Mexico to reduce air pollution through improved brick kiln designs have already boosted fuel efficiency by 50% and reduced particulate pollution from kilns by 80%.

Efficient lighting cleanly meets growing demand. Photo by en.lighten

Another great example of efficiency highlighted by the UN Climate Change Secretariat's Momentum for Change Initiative is en.lighten, which is accelerating the transition to energy efficient lighting in developing countries where electrical demand is expected to grow rapidly. More than 130 countries still market inefficient incandescent lamps, and en.lighten aims to help these countries switch to more efficient lighting by 2016.

Energy Efficiency

What is energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency is key to ensuring a safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable energy system for the future. It is the one energy resource that every country possesses in abundance and is the quickest and least costly way of addressing energy security, environmental and economic challenges.

Why must we be energy efficient?

1. SAVES MONEY
Appliances that are energy-prone reduces the energy used. For example,electrical energy. By so,it also cuts down on bills.

2. IMPROVES THE ECONOMY
As it is proven to be able to save money,it also improves the economy.

3. GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
It lessens the current amount of energy we are using,therefore not harming the environment. Many new technologies to save energy are also invented with keeping the quality of environment in mind.

4. IMPROVES NATIONAL SECURITY

5. ENHANCES QUALITY OF LIFE