Energy efficiency refers to using less energy while still producing the same level of useful output, for instance an LED light bulb typically consumes 75-80% less power than its standard 60Watt counterpart.
Energy efficiency in buildings is vital to reducing carbon emissions and contributing to climate neutrality, and two UN initiatives provide guidance towards meeting this goal: the “Race to Zero” and the “Business Ambitions for 1.5 degC.” TK Elevator has already signed both of these programs.
Industry
Energy efficiency is the easiest and most affordable way to eliminate energy waste in products, buildings, and vehicles – helping families and businesses save money, reduce carbon footprints, make energy more accessible, protect the environment, and create jobs in the process.
The industrial sector, as defined by EIA’s system of intensity indicators, encompasses manufacturing; agriculture; mining; and construction establishments (for more details please consult EIA glossary). These businesses rely heavily on fossil fuels for processing raw materials into goods production while electricity serves to heat and light facilities as well as support other operations like computers and machinery.
Energy efficiency measures included in this category are advanced monitoring and control technologies; duct sealing; thermal insulation; and heat pumps that use air instead of fossil fuels to both cool and heat spaces – among others. Note that structural changes, such as population migration to warmer areas would affect energy intensity but not necessarily represent actual improvements in efficiency.
Transport
Energy efficiency is a vital element of the transport sector. It can reduce carbon emissions while still providing access to jobs, education, health services, goods, services and water even as petroleum imports decrease.
Promoting energy conservation messages in the transport sector requires a complex set of strategies tailored specifically to local conditions. This involves understanding how technology impacts consumption through a computable general equilibrium model that shows energy efficiency improvements can generate economic activity while conserving total energy and petroleum use with only small offsets in non-petroleum consumption offsetting these gains. Furthermore, investment shifts towards low carbon transport must be inclusive and equitable in nature.
Buildings
Buildings provide an efficient and cost-effective platform to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve energy efficiency. Buildings can be designed to conserve energy through energy-saving appliances, lighting fixtures, HVAC systems and metering technologies, along with green cleaning products.
Innovative energy efficiency strategies are also available to enhance the operation of existing structures, including variable refrigerant flow systems and geothermal wells for heating and cooling, coupled with solar panels to lower electrical consumption while producing renewable energy on-site.
The Wayne Aspinall Federal Building in Maryland was originally constructed in 1918, and has recently undergone an energy efficiency renovation to meet modern energy efficiency objectives. It now features a smart grid with sub-metering as well as various energy saving equipment such as advanced power strips, photosensor dimming control systems throughout the facility and 385 rooftop solar panels producing on-site renewable energy production. Furthermore, other energy efficiency features include airtight building envelope construction, thermal mass materials and shading devices – among others.
Residential
Residential-sector energy efficiency policies and programs aim to reduce electricity use, lower utility bills and curb greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs for local skilled professionals such as home energy raters, contractors and manufacturers of efficiency measures and products.
Green building standards and energy-saving appliances from ENERGY STAR can lead to cost-effective energy savings compared with standard homes, while retrofitting existing properties offers the same opportunities to lower energy bills. Furthermore, energy disclosure and benchmarking requirements allow homeowners to highlight these features when selling the property on the real estate market.
Consumer electronics such as televisions, set-top boxes and Blu-Ray players consume a great deal of power, but installing a programmable thermostat and using smart power strips can help cut their consumption significantly. ENERGY STAR qualified appliances tend to be 30% more energy-efficient than non-qualified counterparts; mortgage programs that factor energy efficiency can make improvements more affordable for low-income households.