The greenest energy is the energy we don’t use

The past 20 years, improvements in energy efficiency have kept a lid on emissions. Now we need to break the curve and drive the world towards net zero. Energy efficiency will be critical to success.

Most energy is used in our cities and buildings, in factories, and for transportation. We use much more energy than we need, putting us off track to meet our global climate goals.

If we use our energy smarter, we can break the curve on energy demand. This eases the global transition to clean and green energy sources, since each watt generated from wind and solar stretches further.

The good news is that the solutions are already there. They can be implemented right away. And most have short payback times. We can improve the fuel economy in machines and reduce the demand for diesel. We can electrify trucks and ferries. We can reuse heat from commercial processes to heat homes and industries. We can use both simple and smart technologies to create carbon-zero-ready buildings. 

This is not the future. This is now. The solutions are here. They will increase the competitiveness of our industries and improve the livelihoods of citizens. And most importantly, we need them to meet our climate goals.

The Sønderborg Municipality in Denmark is testament to that. Since 2007, energy-related carbon emissions have been reduced by more than 50%. In this booklet, you can learn about eight tangible examples that demonstrate the value of early action on energy efficiency.

In Denmark, Sønderborg Municipality has worked strategically in a public-private partnership called ProjectZero to find local solutions to a global problem. Since 2007, energy-related carbon emissions have been reduced by more than 50% and the municipality is on track to delivering on their 2029 vision for a carbon neutral energy system.