Energy efficiency: The ‘first fuel’ of the world’s energy system
China driving world’s energy efficiency progress, but much more is possible: IEA
It’s a once-a-year snapshot . . . and the focus keeps on improving.
Energy efficiency is sometimes called the “first fuel” of the global energy system, and its progress was recently captured as part of the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Energy Efficiency Market Report 2016.
“Energy efficiency is the one energy resource all countries possess in abundance,” says the IEA, which works to deliver reliable, affordable and clean energy for its 29 member countries.
“Global energy intensity improved by 1.8% in 2015. This is good news,” adds the IEA. “However, global progress on energy intensity is still too slow . . . the world is using only a small portion of the available supply (of energy efficiency).”
Among the key findings of the IEA’s Energy Efficiency Market Report 2016:
- 2015 energy efficiency improvements in IEA countries (above 2000 levels) saved enough energy to power Japan for one year;
- Thanks to higher energy efficiency levels over the past 15 years, energy demand in IEA member countries has been trimmed by 12%;
- 2015 energy efficiency initiatives in IEA countries avoided the consumption of 870 million barrels of oil, 205 million tonnes of coal, or 224 billion cubic meters of natural gas; and
- Mandatory energy efficiency policies covered 30% of global energy consumption in 2015, up from 11% in 2000;
The 2016 report singled out China—a “global efficiency heavyweight”—whose gains in 2014 avoided the burning of 350 million tonnes of coal. That’s an annual energy savings that now equals the country’s renewable energy supply. “Effiiciency and renewables are China’s twin clean fuel success stories,” says the IEA.
Strong energy efficiency, notes the IEA, is vital to reducing energy bills, boosting energy security, increasing energy access, and tackling climate change and air pollution.
The full report can be viewed or downloaded at the IEA website.
In the world's conversation about energy, one point is beyond debate: Energy makes a vital contribution to people's quality of life, to society and to human progress. This is true today, and it will remain true in the future. That's why Energy Matters was created. We believe it's important to equip people with unbiased information so they may form opinions, join the conversation and feel confidence in the work and accomplishments of the energy sector. Energy Matters is an initiative that provides transparent information and perspective on energy. Here, we'll cover a range of topics: the scale of global energy; the ways energy is sourced and produced; current energy technology; forthcoming innovations; the world's future energy needs; and the sustainable sources of energy that will fill them. Because energy matters to everyone, we hope you'll rely on Energy Matters as an ongoing source of balanced information.
