- 4
- August
2014
The real problem of energy efficiency is that it is uncool
Ecosummit TV: Steven Fawkes lectures on energy efficiency in the built environment at ECO13 London. According to IEA‘s efficient world scenario, energy efficiency would add $35 trillion to the global GDP by 2035 if it was implemented well. How do we achieve the full potential of energy efficiency? As for buildings, we need more accurate building performance models, advanced materials such as smart windows and integrated design that merges green architecture with smart technologies for lighting, heating, cooling and ventilation. As energy efficiency projects often are rather small, they should be aggregated into multi-site programmes. At the same time, investor confidence has to be fostered to drive more capital into energy efficiency. Steven currently works on bringing the Investor Confidence Project to Europe to make large energy efficiency projects ready for investors with the help of standardisation and quality assurance. However, the real problem of energy efficiency is that is uncool. We need more stuff like Nest and Philips Hue. Hey, startups, let’s invent new products to make energy efficiency cool, sexy and successful.
Read more- 26
- June
2013
Steven Fawkes talks about the magic of energy efficiency
Ecosummit TV: Steven Fawkes of Day One Energy Solutions talks about the magic of energy efficiency at ECO13 Berlin. How (in)efficient are we? The answer is 11%. Out of 475 exajoules primary energy like fossil fuels or renewables, we only get 55 exajoules useful energy like heat or electricity. That’s why Steve’s blog is called Only Eleven Percent. So there is a massive potential for improvement. In fact, the levelized cost of energy (LCOE), which is a combination of capital costs, operations and maintenance, performance and fuel costs, of energy efficiency is the lowest compared to all other sources of energy. In his talk, Steve gives a couple of examples where investments in energy efficiency will generate fast returns.
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