Energy efficiency is "using less energy to provide the same service". In other words, energy efficiency, sometimes called efficient energy use, is using less energy to provide the same level of performance, comfort, and convenience. In general, efficient energy use is achieved by using more efficient technologies or processes rather than by changing human behavior.

Energy efficiency offers a powerful and cost-effective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future. Improvements in energy efficiency can reduce the need for investment in energy infrastructure, cut energy bills, improve health, increase competitiveness and improve consumer welfare. Environmental benefits can also be achieved by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. Energy security – the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price – can also profit from improved energy efficiency by decreasing the reliance on imported fossil fuels.

However, it is important to highlight that energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. Energy efficiency is a way of managing and restraining the growth in energy consumption. Something is more energy efficient if it delivers more services for the same energy input, or the same services for less energy input.

I think one of the key starting point for all the government at each level is to increase the public awareness. I have seen several advertizements in different countries in both print and electronic media, where they show future grim scenerios if we continue to do what is practiced now. Actually the carbon foot print and energy requirement of developiong and under developed countries per capita is far lower than those living in developed economies and middle east.

Thank you Mohamed and Saif for inputs,

for Saif: Did any organisations in Kuwait have produced any awareness materials related to Energy efficiency both in English and Arabic, if so please let me know the weblinks

thanks

Hi Golam,

In principle energy efficiency increases when for example a fridge is cooled to 4°C with less electric energy . In the EU public awareness is increased by advertising (for example) fridges with energy efficiency labels. This is done for many different energy goggling consumer products. The label indicates, compared to other devices with the same function, if energy consumption is higher or lower (for example to to get to 4°C in a fridge). Hence the consumer can make a choice based on price and energy efficiency for different brands of fridges, to keep it with that example. This increases awareness with respect to energy efficiency, because when a consumer buys a cheap fridge, in many cases he will pay a higher operating cost because the fridge may (and mostly does) consume more electric power than a more expensive fridge.

On the long run, the cost for the consumer with a lean machine, which is somewhat more expensive, will be less than a big cheap energy goggling machine with high operating costs.

This labeling has now (in my country) also been introduced for housing projects for example. Even more. For newly built houses it is a must to provide a label depicting its energy consumption for all its functions (heating/cooling, lighting). This concumption MUST reach a certain overall energy efficiency. If not, the house will not be allowed to be sold until it is in agreement with the new building standards. I assure you that this creates awareness quite well, with families or companies in the building sector, planning to buy an existing or build a new house.

Cars are another example. In my country energy efficiency and CO2 emission of cars (liters fuel/100 km and kg CO2/100 km), is quite frequently not an argument to go for the most energy efficient and least CO2 emitting car. As a matter of fact about 25% of the cars sold in my country are company cars offered to an employed, as an extra-legal wage. In that case the company pays all the car costs (fuel quite often as well) and hence, the employed doesn't care less if the car is energy efficient or not. The employed mostly selects a prestiguous big BMW or Mercedes. This is different for those people who have to finance their automotive mobility themselves. They are aware of the pro's and con's of certain car types and their fuel goggling capacity. Hence, in the automotive sector there is still some work to do, at least in my country and especially for company cars.

Hope this short overview helps a little bit to grasp the mechanisms, which lead to a higher energy efficiency (awareness).

Cheers,

Frank

Hi Frank, many thanks for a good overview in relation to EE with fridge, house and car. Perhaps we need to do more awareness and education programme targeting at the grass roots level

Regards

Golam

When you think of "energy efficiency" you may think of energy-efficient appliances (fridge, light bulbs, cars, etc.). It is however also important to expand the practice to Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. For example, instead of buying a hybrid car, it is even more environmentally friendly to not drive altogether. Encourage public transportation, bicycles, walking. Turn off appliances (not "stand by") when they are not in use. Reuse items as much as possible; for example, bring your own grocery bags when you shop instead of asking for plastic bags every time--- the production of plastic bags uses energy and produces wastes. Recycle materials whenever possible. Many cities have comprehensive recycling programs. This reduces wastes and consumption of raw materials. In the long run education is essential for changing people's hearts and minds about the 3 R's. In the short run as a policy some people consider the stick-and-carrot approach; i.e. impose some form of penalty for people who don't do 3 R's or provide some incentive for those who do. For example, when some European countries started to charge for plastic bags at grocery stores (a small penalty if you will), more people started to bring their own bags. When car and gas prices go up, use of public transportation also goes up. In the old days when Coca-Cola was sold in glass bottles, you get a nickle back when you return the glass bottles (a small incentive), which go back to the factory for reuse. In places where recycling bins are readily available people are more willing to recycle. There are simple things that can be done to change many of our bad habits.

Many Thanks Prof Kam Tung, Yes 3 RS is officially in practice, but sometime we may need to educate the community about the benefits lies in each of policy or programme that government adopted related to Energy Efficiency and what does it mean, how it will benefits the community. Unless we explain in simple means to the community via awareness for example it may not work, perhaps we have to start from home! Thanks. Golam

Energy efficiency is "using less energy to provide the same service". In other words, energy efficiency, sometimes called efficient energy use, is using less energy to provide the same level of performance, comfort, and convenience. In general, efficient energy use is achieved by using more efficient technologies or processes rather than by changing human behavior.

Energy efficiency offers a powerful and cost-effective tool for achieving a sustainable energy future. Improvements in energy efficiency can reduce the need for investment in energy infrastructure, cut energy bills, improve health, increase competitiveness and improve consumer welfare. Environmental benefits can also be achieved by the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollution. Energy security – the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price – can also profit from improved energy efficiency by decreasing the reliance on imported fossil fuels.

However, it is important to highlight that energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy. Energy efficiency is a way of managing and restraining the growth in energy consumption. Something is more energy efficient if it delivers more services for the same energy input, or the same services for less energy input.

Hi Jorge,

Thanks for explanation on energy efficiency and benefits lies in improvement in energy efficiency. regards. Golam

Golam yes in Kuwait we have developed material for energy efficiency. Unfortunately it is not available online but hard copies are available. I will hav eto say that we are not very energy efficient but steps are taken in right direction by the government and public participation is supporting, it. In public places and large building special care has been taken to utilize natural light. However bulk of the electric consumption is due to airconditioning awareness campaigns were run to tell public that these chillers be used at 25oC to save electricity. Use of CFLs and LEDs has become popular. The regular bulbs import has reduced to a percent.

Switch to renewables! You have plenty of sunshine in Kuwait, use it for electricity production, for warming water and also for cooling it, to reduce your enormous carbon footprint (more than 20 tons of CO2 per person per year while the world average is 5)!

Thanks Vittoria, Renewable energy is one of the options for a clean energy future, Regards Golam

I have nothing much to add to great answers (thanks) apart from wanting to add my support to Jorge when he highlights conservation. These "twins" of efficiency and conservation need to go hand in hand in public education. As long as we continue to produce energy from from fossil fuels, we need to both use less, and make better use of what we consume. On the other hand, we all need more energy, especially in the developing world. I would like to use as much energy as I need! Energy is not the enemy, energy is releasing much of the world from poverty, hunger and disease, but until we decouple the production of energy from the generation of greenhouse gases, we must do what we can to promote both conservation and efficiency.

Hi David, Excellent overview. Yes we need to have both energy efficiency and energy savings. Economic prosperity of a country lies with energy. regards

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/energy-efficient-buildings

https://energy.gov/energysaver/energy-efficient-home-design