Energy efficiency is here to stay
This decade is the most important one for energy efficiency in the energy transition. FORESIGHT spoke to Brian Motherway, head of energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency (IEA), to discuss why this is and how it can be better implemented
Speaking ahead of the IEA’s 7th Annual Global Conference on Energy Efficiency in Sønderborg, Denmark (June 7th-9th), Brian Motherway describes how global collaboration on energy efficiency measures is vital for its success. While there are different contexts for each region, the issues surrounding energy efficiency are similar everywhere, he says.
The past two years, dominated by a pandemic and more recently war, have catapulted energy efficiency to the top of the political agenda, but Motherway believes the threat of global warming was already changing mindsets. While it is a complex puzzle to solve, energy efficiency is uniquely placed to combat the trio of current crises: energy security, climate change and unprecedented price hikes. ...
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The energy transition is about more than switching power carriers. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable forms of energy generation is perhaps the most significant change the world will make in its attempts to avoid the catastrophic effects of climate change. Still, it is not as simple as a straight swap. It requires a complete overhaul of how we live and interact with our world. This is where energy efficiency and the efficient use of energy comes in