As emerging economies continue to expand, their energy needs are set to grow dramatically
in the coming years. The International Energy Agency has even predicted that global energy
use will increase by 30 percent over the next two and a half decades. With crude oil the
source of so much volatility around the world, there is no question that the the future of
energy will be based on countries dedicated to alternative, renewable sources. So, which
countries are the most energy efficient?
Well, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has ranked the world’s 16 largest
economies, which account for nearly three quarters of global electricity consumption.
This is based on 31 metrics, spanning energy use in buildings, industry, and transportation.
It includes things like the country’s national energy savings goals, vehicle fuel economy
standards, and energy consumed per foot of floor space. The United States ranks among
the least efficient, at number thirteen.
But across the board, Germany saw the greatest energy efficiency, scoring well in all metrics,
but especially industry. According to the report, German industry and manufacturing
is the second most fuel efficient in the world, with plans to far surpass the current leader,
Australia, by 2020. Part of the reason Germany is doing so well is a national policy, dedicated
to lowering energy use, known as Energiewende, or Energy Transition. The goal of this program
is to stop using coal and other non-renewable energy sources like oil. Clearly, it has been
working so far. In 2014, Germany accounted for half of the new wind farms in the EU,
and has been leading the world in energy efficiency.
In an extremely close second place overall, Italy actually surpasses Germany in transportation.
Although they tie with the UK for vehicle fuel efficiency, at nearly 40 miles per gallon
on average, Italians also travel the least per capita. This low impact, high efficiency
makes Italy a world leader in transit energy. Additionally, Italy tends to prioritize its
rail system over its roads, leading to more people taking the train, and thereby saving
considerable energy. Still, Italy continues to primarily use fossil fuels, and actually
scores the worst in terms of commercial building energy efficiency.
When it comes to buildings, China takes the lead. Their polluting past and wide range
of energy inefficiency may hold them back. But China’s residential buildings use less
energy per square foot than any other country in the report. This is partially due to strict
building codes, and the fact that energy intensity is one of the country’s top priorities.
And despite being known for wastefulness, between 1980 and 2010, energy consumption
increased five times, while the economy grew 18 times.
Between Germany, Italy, and China, emerging countries can look at their journeys towards
energy efficiency, and fine tune their own programs for maximum output. Still, every
country surveyed has a long way to go, and plenty of areas to improve. Hopefully, 2016
will see even greater use of renewable and alternative energies.
To get a close look at how a small Tanzanian village’s movie theatre deals with blackouts
and electricity shortages, check out this video from our sister network, Seeker Stories.
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