Experts say that improving the efficiency of appliances and electricity networks through efforts such as preventing leakage from electrical sockets and stopping overloads in appliances that draw power from wall sockets even when they are turned off, can reduce emissions that cause To warm the planet quickly without having to build a lot of renewable energy capacity.
By reducing the amount of energy needed to perform the same tasks, the world can burn less fossil fuels and spend less on expanding solar or wind capacity.
“We need to change not only the way we generate electricity, but also the ways we use it,” said Larissa Gross of the E3G Climate Research Centre.
At least 118 countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai supported a pledge to improve energy efficiency rates by four percent every year until 2030. This would double the two percent improvement in energy efficiency rates in 2022.
How does energy use become more efficient?
The International Energy Agency has described efficiency as the “ first fuel ” of the energy transition and one of the fastest and most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse emissions.
At its simplest, energy efficiency means using appliances, technology or electronics designed to consume less energy, such as heat pumps or self-lighting bulbs.
On a larger scale, buildings can be designed to have better insulation to reduce the need for air conditioning or heating. Factories or cities can improve wiring to stop energy leakage.
As more sectors such as transportation seek power from the electrical grid rather than burning fossil fuels, demand on the grid will rise sharply.
“We need to make energy efficiency as attractive as wind turbines,” said Sophie Ergens, head of Climate Solutions Acceleration at Danish multinational Danfoss, which makes heating and cooling products.
Government regulations may also help in ways that include, for example, requiring minimum energy performance standards for appliances, vehicles or manufacturing.
How much energy and money can be saved?
Doubling the global average energy efficiency rate could provide half of the total emissions reductions needed by 2030, according to the IEA’s roadmap to net-zero emissions.
For the European Union and Britain, this means reducing total carbon dioxide emissions by 40 million tons per year by 2030. That translates into immediate annual cost savings of about 10.5 billion euros ($11.43 billion), Danfoss estimated in a report released in November. 2023.
Sectors around the world could save $437 billion annually by 2030 while improving energy efficiency, according to a combined sector report issued by the Energy Efficiency Movement in October 2023.
What offers the greatest energy savings?
Switching to electric cars or heat pumps could deliver significant energy savings if they are connected to grids that increasingly rely on renewable energy sources.
Electric cars also waste less of their energy reserve than gasoline-powered vehicles.
The International Energy Agency says heat pumps can be five times more efficient than gas-fired boilers.
In developing countries, including India and parts of Africa, the same logic applies to switching to electric cooking stoves instead of burning cow dung or firewood for cooking.
“Cooking with electric appliances is much more efficient than cooking with biofuels,” said Nick Eyre, an energy researcher at the University of Oxford.
Is progress being made?
From 2020, countries mobilized about $1 trillion for energy efficiency projects in sectors from buildings and public transportation to subsidies for electric vehicles.
The energy efficiency report issued annually by the International Energy Agency stated that as a result, energy efficiency in the world improved this year by about 1.3 percent compared to last year, which is a slower pace than the two percent improvement recorded in 2022 due largely to higher energy demand.
US energy efficiency exceeds the global average rate of efficiency improvement this year by four percent, with $86 billion allocated to achieve this goal under the inflation reduction law.
The European Union saw energy efficiency increase by five percent this year after an eight percent improvement last year, partly due to the arrival of milder winters.
Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands saw heat pump sales rise by 75 percent in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year.
The IEA also highlighted opportunities in developing countries whose cities are expanding and can better plan for new energy-efficient buildings as their economies grow.
FAQs:
1. How does energy use become more efficient?
Energy use becomes more efficient through the adoption of appliances, technology, and electronics designed to consume less energy. This includes the implementation of heat pumps, self-lighting bulbs, and designing buildings with better insulation to reduce the need for heating or cooling. Government regulations, such as minimum energy performance standards, also play a crucial role in promoting energy-efficient practices.
2. How much energy and money can be saved through improved efficiency?
Doubling the global average energy efficiency rate could provide half of the total emissions reductions needed by 2030. For the European Union and Britain, this translates into an immediate annual cost savings of about 10.5 billion euros ($11.43 billion). Sectors worldwide could save $437 billion annually by 2030 while improving energy efficiency, according to a combined sector report issued in October 2023.
3. What offers the greatest energy savings?
Switching to electric cars, heat pumps, and electric cooking stoves can deliver significant energy savings. Electric cars and heat pumps, when connected to grids relying on renewable energy sources, are particularly efficient. The International Energy Agency notes that heat pumps can be five times more efficient than gas-fired boilers, contributing to substantial energy conservation.
Conclusion
Addressing climate change and reducing emissions requires a multifaceted approach, and improving energy efficiency stands out as a crucial and immediate solution. By focusing on the optimization of existing energy consumption, we can achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions without solely relying on the expansion of renewable energy capacity.
The commitment of 118 countries to enhance energy efficiency rates by four percent annually until 2030, as evident from the COP28 conference, signifies a global recognition of the importance of this strategy. From individual households to large-scale industries, adopting energy-efficient practices and technologies offers a promising pathway to meet emission reduction targets while also yielding substantial economic benefits.
