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'Efficient energy use', sometimes simply called 'energy efficiency', is using less energy to provide the same level of energy service. An example would be insulating a home to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve the same temperature. Another example would be installing fluorescent lights and/or skylights instead of incandescent lights to attain the same level of illumination. So efficient energy use is achieved primarily by means of a more efficient technology or process rather than by changes in invidual behaviour.^[1]
Energy efficient buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world's energy needs in 2050 by one third, and be crucial in controlling global emissions of greenhouse gases, according to the International Energy Agency.^[2]
Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the “twin pillars” of sustainable energy policy.^[3]

Contents

Energy conservation

Sustainable energy

See also

References

External links

Energy conservation

Energy conservation is different to energy efficiency in that it involves using less energy to achieve a lesser energy service, and usually requires behavioural change. Examples would be heating a room less in winter, or driving less, or working in a less brightly lit room. As with other definitions, the boundary between efficient energy use and energy conservation can be fuzzy, but both are important in environmental and economic terms. This is especially the case when actions are directed at the saving of fossil fuels.^[4]

Sustainable energy

Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the “twin pillars” of sustainable energy policy. Both resources must be developed to stabilize and reduce carbon dioxide emissions in our lifetimes. Efficient energy use is essential to slowing the energy demand growth so that rising clean energy supplies can make deep cuts in fossil fuel use. If energy use grows too fast, renewable energy development will chase a receding target. Likewise, unless clean energy supplies come online rapidly, slowing demand growth will only begin to reduce total emissions; reducing the carbon content of energy sources is also needed. Any serious vision of a sustainable energy economy thus requires major commitments to both efficiency and renewables.^[3]

See also

★ Alliance to Save Energy

★ Green energy

★ Hybrid vehicle

★ Plug-in hybrid

★ Power outage

★ V2G

References

1. Diesendorf, Mark (2007). ''Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy'', UNSW Press, p. 86.
2. Invest in clean technology says IEA report
3. The Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Synergies between Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology and Policy
4. Diesendorf, Mark (2007). ''Greenhouse Solutions with Sustainable Energy'', UNSW Press, p. 87.
5. The Twin Pillars of Sustainable Energy: Synergies between Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technology and Policy

External links

★ Energy Efficiency in the Power Grid

★ Ban the bulb: Worldwide Shift from Incandescents to Compact Fluorescents Could Close 270 Coal-Fired Power Plants

★ Directive 2006/32/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 April 2006 on energy end-use efficiency and energy services and repealing Council Directive 93/76/EEC.

★ ASHRAE, DOE Partner to Promote Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

★ Conserving electrical energy in the home