Energy Efficiency Around the World: here’s one more fun infographic, this time from Well Home, an energy audit provider. It shows the widespread support for energy efficiency around the world, as well as some other interesting facts.
Improving energy efficiency is one of the top things we can do to combat global warming, save money, and improve our quality of life. Hope we steam forward on this at a faster and faster clip.
Here’s the infographic on global energy efficiency advocacy (click to enlarge):
What Does Energy Efficiency Around the World Mean?
Energy efficiency is “using less energy to provide the same service”. There are other definitions, but this is a good operational one. The best way to understand this idea is through examples:
- When you replace a single pane window in your house with an energy-efficient one, the new window prevents heat from escaping in the winter. You therefore save energy by using your furnace or electric heater less while still staying comfortable. In the summer, efficient windows keep the heat out. The air conditioner does not run as often and you save electricity.
- When you replace an appliance, such as a refrigerator, clothes washer, office equipment, computer or printer, with a more energy-efficient model, the new equipment provides the same service, but uses less energy. This saves you money on your energy bill, and reduces the amount of greenhouse gases going into the atmosphere.
Energy efficiency is not energy conservation. Energy conservation is reducing or going without a service to save energy.
For example: Turning off a light is energy conservation. Replacing an incandescent lamp with a compact fluorescent lamp is energy efficiency. The CFL uses much less energy to produce the same amount of light. Both efficiency and conservation can reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Credit: Zachary Shahan at Cleantechnica and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
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Nice infographic! But I’m a little bit disappointed, that the Gulf region is missing. As the authorities are so eager to play a leading role in sustainable energy and companies launch websites on energy efficiency in the Gulf region. I wonder what the population thinks.
“Steam” forward…I love it! But, the article is correct! Energy efficiency is a vital link in reducing environmental damages. There are numerous technologies already that show great promise. However, the almighty dollar, euro, etc. is still a key factor. Most of these promising new technologies are not yet economically competitive with existing methods of energy production, so therefore receive little attention. Even worse, there have been numerous discoveries, advances, etc. that will likely never make it to market, because control of them was attained by various corporations, and others, because development of those technologies would have adversely affected their profit margins. I have personally run patent searches, and seen countless adaptions, modifications, and even outright “revolutionary” new devices that held great promise. But, when I looked at who held the patent rights, it was always the large corporations who would have been “economic competitors”.