Importance of Energy Efficiency

 

The efficient use of energy helps to restore the greenhouse gas balance in the atmosphere by reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that occur in production and consumption. Performing of more tasks with the same amount or less greenhouse gas emissions is possible with the efficient use of energy. Reducing energy consumption by means of highly efficient equipment helps institutions and organizations to achieve their sustainability goals. Efficient use of energy resources helps to reduce costs.

We can say that greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere during energy generation and consumption play a significant role in the growth of carbon footprint and in deterioration of the living ecosystem. Energy efficiency, which is related with the continuity of goals such as economic growth and social development, is an important factor in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Efficient use of energy in the world is essential due to its contribution to natural balances.

What is Energy Efficiency?

Energy efficiency means that the work is performed by consuming less energy without reducing the quality and characteristics of the work. Improvements for energy efficiency are accomplished using a more efficient technology or manufacturing process. In order to minimize energy losses, energy use can be planned or the excess energy can be used for different works.

Keeping of greenhouse gases, which are the main cause of global warming and climate change, under control helps the continuity and protection of the entire ecosystem. Since energy is an indispensable necessity today, the importance of energy efficiency and energy saving comes to the fore. Energy efficiency and energy saving, although are two different topics, can often be confused with each other. Energy saving means reducing of the current amount of the consumed energy, whereas energy efficiency means using of machines and processes that require less energy.

In addition to the use of machines with low energy consumption, regular maintenance and repair processes are also of importance in terms of efficiency. Delays in maintenance and repairs may result in more energy consumption of the device used. The presently applied examples provide a significant reduction in energy consumption. Although there are different methods for efficiency applications, for industrial and domestic use, the common goal is to provide the highest benefit from energy. In daily life, there exists a great potential for energy efficiency.

Energy Efficiency in Housing

In order to provide energy efficiency in housing, it is important that the electrical appliances used have high efficiency technologies. Thanks to the energy labels on the electrical appliances; it is possible to learn their energy efficiency classification. In addition to indication of the efficiency class, these labels also include information such as the total annual energy consumption, the noise emission during operation and the annual water consumption. Modern freezers, ovens, stoves, dishwashers and washing machines provide higher efficiency than those used in the past. Replacing of the household appliances with the new ones can help to reduce energy consumption.

In housing, by using low consumption bulbs for lighting, we can provide efficiency. Low-energy (consuming) light bulbs produced with LED technology are examples of this. The use of LED bulbs provides benefits in terms of low energy consumption and their longevity also extends their reuptake time. Thus, less energy is used during production and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced.

Architectural approaches that support efficiency can be used when constructing houses. With the application of building designs that benefit more from daylight, energy consumption can be reduced. Efficiency can also be achieved in buildings by means of insulation applications. Consumption of heating and cooling, which leads to high energy use, can be reduced by insulation applications. Reduction in the energy used for heating shall reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. 

Energy Efficiency in Industry

The national energy efficiency action plan also addresses the issue of providing support to increase efficiency projects in the industry. One of the basic cost item of industrial facilities is the cost of energy consumption. Energy efficiency is an important concept in the production sector in respect of reducing costs and environmental damage.

As there exist various processes in production, there are many areas that allow efficiency to be achieved. Depending on the equipment, machinery and processes used in industrial facilities, different efficiency methods can be applied. Energy efficiency consulting companies can contribute to ensuring of the highest efficiency through inspections and audits to be conducted.

The energy efficiency consultancy services that the industrial facilities shall receive from Energy Efficiency Consultancy (EEC) companies are in a guiding position. We can list some of the methods that can be applied to ensure efficiency in production as follows:

• Losses may occur from the surface of the materials from which heat energy at high temperatures is transmitted through. Up to 80% of the heat lost can be prevented by application of insulation.
•  Less energy consuming illumination can be selected. Electricity consumption can be reduced by controlling lighting by means of motion sensors.
• By the use of inverters, savings in energy consumption can be provided in variable load motors.
• The existing heat of high-temperature fluids that are discarded during production can be reused for to perform different tasks.
• Equipment with a higher capacity than necessary causes more energy consumption. Having the equipment used in suitable capacities can reduce energy consumption.
• Efficiency in water consumption can be achieved by using treatment systems.
• Renewable energy sources can be used in the generation of heat and electricity.

Why Should We Prefer Energy Efficiency?

Energy efficiency is a low-cost strategy that proves that increasing supply to meet the increased consumption is not the only solution. Besides helping to reduce climate change and air pollution, for the consumers, it can as well provide reduction in the amount of energy used in housing. Thus, foreign dependency in energy, which is caused by the energy imported from abroad, can be reduced.                                                                                                      

As Aydem Energy, with the investments we make in renewable and sustainable energy sources, we place great emphasis on this issue as well. Energy efficiency investments are more affordable than the cost of energy losses that occur. The first step can be taken with the basic-level measures that can be implemented for the efficient use of energy in housing and industry. Increasing of efficiency will facilitate the fight against problems such as climate change, which humanity presently faces.