The World Economic Forum today launched the Energy Vision Update 2010 – Towards a More Energy Efficient World report. The report explores the importance of energy efficiency to meet the world’s energy demands. Written in partnership with IHS Cambridge Energy Research Associates, the report argues that, of all the energy options available, efficiency can contribute the most energy “supply” while reducing costs and greenhouse gases and, at the same time, increasing energy security.
“Efficiency is at the core of a number of energy-related issues,” said Roberto Bocca, Senior Director, Head of Energy Industries, World Economic Forum. “Faced with multiple challenges like growing energy demand, climate change and energy security, efficiency has moved to the top of the energy agendas of both government and business.”
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The report finds that, despite its crucial role in the world’s energy strategies, energy efficiency is often misunderstood and is in need of “rebranding” to match its potential. The relative intangibility of energy efficiency also presents a challenge to a greater understanding of this potential. Companies and individuals tend to invest in assets and products that they can see, feel and touch, while governments tend to support programmes that generate jobs and create technologies for export. Energy efficiency is not a “thing”, but a process and a way of thinking.
“Efficiency is often incorrectly associated with sacrifice,” noted Daniel Yergin, Chairman, CERA; Executive Vice-President, IHS, USA. “Energy efficiency really means getting more of the things we want while using less energy by improving the productivity of energy use. Efficiency means that consumers use less energy while preserving their lifestyles or even enhancing them.”
The report concludes that knowledge about the nature of investment-grade energy efficiency, consumer behaviour and technological innovation allows companies and policy-makers to create the distinctive “infrastructure” that is essential to reaching energy efficiency goals. |
