Efficiency Drive Can Cut a Quarter Off Energy Demand

New research shows that saving the planet from global warming by combining renewables and energy efficiency will also save money and create jobs.

The more renewables a country deploys, the more efficient its energy use, according to a study of the eight countries that consume half of the world’s electricity.

The researchers estimate that by combining investments in renewables and in energy efficiency, the world’s total energy demand can be reduced by 25% by 2030.

In practical terms, it cannot happen all at once, but the adoption of modern technology such as efficient cooking stoves instead of open fires in India, and the use by all countries of renewable energy to power energy-efficient lightbulbs, refrigerators and factories, would prevent the world from dangerously overheating.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency and the Copenhagen Centre on Energy Efficiency, which combined to produce the study, this is the first time that anyone has tried to link the benefits of investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Emissions reductions
Although widely different in their economies and state of development, all the countries studied – China, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Italy, the UK and the US – would make substantial reductions in emissions by 2030 as fossil fuel use would drop dramatically.

The aim of the study was to work out how best to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All initiative, which seeks to achieve three linked global objectives:  ensuring universal access to electricity; doubling the rate of improvement of energy efficiency; doubling the share of renewables in global energy supply by 2030.

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