6.1 Energy efficiency

The best practice in energy efficiency will need to be used to keep total world energy demand down. This will include energy efficiency retrofits of a large proportion of the existing building stock including insulation (Figure 18) and double or triple glazing.

Also, the highest levels of energy efficiency will need to be used in industrial and commercial processes and practices. A switch away from fossil-fuelled electricity generation will remove a major source of energy wastage due to the poor thermal efficiency of coal, oil and gas power stations.

Energy efficiency policies are already being implemented because they are both practical and highly cost-effective. Although it is often said that the world will need increasing amounts of energy for economic growth, in practice what consumers need are energy services – for instance, being able to heat and light their homes, and to travel to work and for leisure. The task of energy efficiency projects is to deliver the same level of service but by using less energy. For example, most countries across the world have passed legislation to phase out the incandescent light bulb, replacing it with more efficient LED (light emitting diode) lighting and to promote low-energy domestic appliances such as fridges. This is actually the cheapest way of supplying the ‘energy services’ of lighting and chilled food storage to the public.