Energy efficiency should be top priority
5th December 2015
DENMARK: With the potential to deliver a 38% emissions reduction, Danfoss has called for energy efficiency to be given top priority at this month’s climate summit.
In spite of the enormous potential, the International Energy Agency estimates that only a third of the global energy efficiency potential will be achieved under the existing and discussed policies, says Danfoss.
The Danish manufacturer maintains that if energy was used more efficiently, it could deliver 38% of the emissions reduction needed to keep the planet within the 2º scenario of global warming by 2050.
“When it comes to combating climate change, the innovative solutions and technologies we need are ready – technologies that allow us to save energy and decarbonise energy production cost-efficiently, here and now. That is reason for optimism. However, we need to speed up their adoption through a strong global climate deal and increased collaboration between the public and private sector to deliver and finance the best solutions,” explained Danfoss president and CEO Niels B Christiansen.
Danfoss argues that worldwide the potential for energy efficiency in countries and cities is great. Buildings, it says, account for approximately one-third of global energy use and is expected to contribute 45% of efficiency-related CO2 emissions savings by 2040. Technologies like advanced compressors, variable-speed drives, control valves and radiator thermostats can cut up to 40% of the energy used in the cooling and heating systems, and pay-back time is low.
The company also claims that there is a lot to gain in the overall energy system, with the possibility that 58% of the CO2 emissions reduction required in the energy sector by 2050 could be achieved through broad application of district heating and cooling systems.
“To further accelerate the use of energy-efficient solutions, world leaders should ensure that the new global deal enables their greater adoption,” said Niels B Christiansen. “We need to create frameworks on global, national and regional level that make it easier to overcome barriers such as funding, policy incentives, knowledge sharing, and education. In short: we must make it easy to become energy-efficient.”
Niels B Christiansen will give several speeches at the COP21 climate summit in Paris, and participate in plenum discussions at the Lima-Paris Action Agenda event on energy efficiency and at the biggest side events such as UNEP’s Sustainable Innovation Forum on Monday and the International New York Times event Energy for Tomorrow on December 8. Prior to COP21, Danfoss has also joined forces with World Economic Forum, UN initiatives and other international companies to commit to and urge concrete climate action.
