Energy Efficiency And Climate Change

Energy efficiency refers to the excellent, total and complete utilization of lesser amounts of energy to perform a particular task. In simple terms, it’s wholly using less energy to do more. Energy efficiency is one of the solutions used in climate change mitigation, alongside nature based solutions, carbon capture and storage and renewable energy.

First, energy efficiency ensures that lesser amounts of energy are used and therefore lesser amounts of energy are generated. Given that fossil fuels contribute to slightly more than three quarters of energy used in the world, being energy efficient would reduce the amount of carbon emissions and other greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. This is effectively climate action.

Using energy efficiently can be applied everywhere but the main focus is industries, household use, transport and buildings

In households, a lot of the energy consumed is by appliances. Using newer and more modern versions of appliances reduces the amount of energy used to do something. Old generation appliances are more bulky, consume more power and take more time to do the same thing. Another thing is to reduce load on the grid. Plugging in many gadgets which for the most part are not necessary or perform similar functions increases the amount of energy used and can stress the grid.

Usually, many countries have a labelling system, where appliances are rated based on their energy efficiency. This informs consumers and creates awareness thereby influencing their spending habits towards cleaner and more efficient equipment.

Electrification of systems is one of the first methods to promote energy efficiency. Electricity can be used for lighting and cooking in place of other less efficient means. For example, to heat up a place rather than free burning wooden stoves. Electrification immediately saves a lot of the energy that would be wasted into the open atmosphere.

Use of LED lights instead of the more energy intensive incandescent lights helps conserve energy. LEDs use little energy and provide the same amount of light.

Perhaps some of the most common sense energy efficient measures is to simply switch off the lights when not using them.

In building design, there is the use of green technologies such as using breathable or natural materials, providing natural insulation and placement of windows in a way meant to amplify natural light. All this lessens amounts of generated energy used and contribute to energy efficiency.

Clever placement of windows ensures that natural light, which also is good for eye and brain health, is used to the maximum. Sunlight is natural and costs nothing but when carefully tapped can greatly reduce the energy used in lighting.

Building design should use light materials, which are able to absorb heat and allow free aeration at the same time. That is, buildings that are not heavy and bulky, which are able to naturally retain heat without excessively warming up a place. In cold conditions, they should absorb heat and in warm conditions release it.

Smart meters, shading and use of renewable energy on site or otherwise are some of the ways to make a building energy efficient. Buildings can be constructed with rooftop solar photovoltaic and this used to generate onsite electricity to power the building. In actual sense, sometimes the energy generated might be more and this can be sold to the main grid or transferred to other buildings.

Buildings can also use offsite renewable energy like solar or wind. Offsite means it is generated elsewhere but used to power the building. Making a building energy efficient also includes the use of greenery on the walls or the roof. Such absorb carbon emissions, release oxygen and moisture and their general effect is cooling and ‘re-watering’ the atmosphere. In this way, they reduce the amount of energy a building needs especially for cooling.

Green plants are natural air conditioners.

Since there’s a good number of buildings which were constructed earlier and are not so efficient, retrofitting such structures in a bid to save power can be carried out.

New developments in renewable energy storage (use of batteries) are targeted towards increasing the amount of energy stored and with lower environmental costs. Better batteries mean that less energy is wasted and more is conserved. Alternatively, energy sources can be turned off or down when the building is not in use (off peak hours) i.e. when occupants are out or it’s at night. This saved energy can be used later on during peak hours.

Solar photovoltaic if sufficiently deployed has higher penetration rates than main grid electricity and can serve areas that are remote or far flung. Solar can go a long way to make a community self-sufficient or a nation both energy independent and energy secure.

A solar PV technician -Martin Oduor/jiji.ke

Smart thermostats are another measure that promotes efficiency.

Use of building codes and energy efficient standards as well as certification programs also promote certain levels of energy efficiency particularly for buildings.

Digitalisation of the grid in terms of control of energy supply, use and distribution in buildings also provides quick, easy and accurate data that can be used to identify trends as well as gaps and so inform measures to be taken for energy efficiency. It also improves reaction times and stops wastage of energy due to delays. Digital means can be used in battery exchange businesses which is a fast way to promote efficiency.

The heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry is one of the biggest consumers of energy. During cold conditions, homes and other buildings need to be heated and this is done by heating and sealing the air which then circulates the warmth. Cooling during summer is done using fans. Air conditioning too.

A good percentage of this is done using natural gas as the fuel that is burnt to provide energy. Even though natural gas has the lowest amounts of greenhouse gases in comparison to coal and oil, it is still a fossil fuel and produces carbon emissions.

Natural gas is what powers water boilers in winter. Now, in order to make such energy efficient, electric heat pumps can replace boilers and fuel pumps in buildings and homes. These two though commonly used in the past are very inefficient in terms of energy and more polluting. They are a health hazard because of indoor pollution.

Heat pumps are about thrice more efficient than these traditional alternatives and are powered by electricity. To further increase their use, training of personnel who install these in buildings is necessary. These pumps when weighed overall are cheaper in terms of financial costs and the health benefits.

Indoor pollution is also caused by inefficient methods of cooking such as woodfuel. Woodfuel wastes a lot of energy and releases quite a number of pollutants into the atmosphere, lowering air quality and endangering respiratory, newborn and maternal health.

Biogas, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and bioethanol are some of the methods that can replace biomass. They generate little indoor pollution i.e. they burn cleaner and more completely, last longer and are cheaper. Biogas in particular can be produced from household waste or composted manure. It is easy to generate and the advantage is that it can be produced independently and in small scale. It can be for individual household use or can be generated from large scale facilities such as municipal waste landfills and this redistributed back to the grid in terms of electricity or supplied as cooking fuel.

Technology is a major pillar of energy efficiency. An example is the use of smart buildings. These buildings are grid efficient and energy use is controlled by technology and not manually. These buildings also can in a way in terms of energy, “self-regulate.”

Electric vehicles aim to reduce emissions from the transport industry, specifically phase out the internal combustion engine (petrol and diesel cars) used in road transport. Electric vehicles are zero emission and are charged using electricity generated from renewable sources. They are more energy efficient and are in fact better for human and environmental health. EVs are the future of road transport and have experienced growth in uptake from both established and new markets.

The transport industry can promote energy saving by encouraging use of public transport. Public transport systems use reduced amounts of energy to mass transport people from one area to another. They reduce vehicle congestion and traffic jams and lower the energy burned on the roads. Another benefit is in terms of health – they reduce respiratory illnesses. And yet another social benefit is that they promote community and human interaction.

Governments could do well to create liveable, human-oriented cities that encourage walking or use of bicycles. This could be augmented by nature parks. All this reduces energy demand.

Another way to be energy efficient is to use trains instead of air planes. Planes have a higher carbon footprint than trains, are more expensive and use more energy intense fuel.

Energy efficient methods can be deployed in the paper making, steel, cement and chemicals industries, which are heavy and energy intensive. Given that these industries are reliant on fossil fuels, changing fuels used could cut the amounts of mainly coal and oil used and so vastly cut emissions. Electrifying industrial systems particularly furnaces used in the production process can also save on energy and mitigate climate change. Better utilization of waste heat can also reduce energy costs.

Now, energy efficiency is to a large part controlled by human behavior which is why it is essential to raise public awareness. Conducting mass education and trainings can encourage the adoption of energy efficiency measures. Peer to peer campaigns, community outreach and sensitization using media can all give good results.

Starting from the earliest levels –the institutions of learning and home training, people can be taught to conserve energy and be mindful of their actions.

By far, the most important thing is to build capacity for this particular sector. All cadres of qualified workers from policy makers, specialists in clean energy, managerial levels and technical/practical skilled workers are acutely needed in large numbers to steer the world towards energy saving.

In other ways, innovation is one of the strongest tools of energy efficiency. Newer and better strategies to conserve energy are still under research and this area holds immense potential.

Now, energy efficiency can cut GHG emissions by about a quarter to a half, and so in a great way reduce the impacts of climate change. It is an important part of the decarbonization plans of many countries. It is included in many of the individual nationally determined contributions (climate plans) submitted by countries in an effort to fight climate change.

Energy efficiency also plays a crucial part in the net zero emissions target by midcentury.

In other ways energy efficiency measures can be employed during power shortages, some of which are occasioned by the impacts of climate change. An example would be extended droughts impacting generation of hydropower and also causing higher energy demand but lower supply and so rationing.

More power is needed when it’s hotter, for example during climate change caused heat waves. Heat waves require more power used in cooling and similar to droughts, they stress energy supply sources and overwork the grid.

In general, energy efficiency has multiple benefits. It  lower amounts of energy used, greatly reduces financial costs, creates jobs, improves the quality of air, has short and long term health benefits, is better for the economy at large, and safer for environment.

Energy efficiency is the number one strategy to greatly cut energy related emissions and so works towards climate action, of which climate change is the biggest challenge of modern times but something the human race is well equal to.