The new IEA report: Increasing the energy efficiency of buildings will be crucial for the green transition.

Individuals spend a significant amount of time in buildings such as homes, offices, shops, and schools.

These places, despite their different functions, share the need to consume significant energy for lighting, heating, cooling, and the operation of appliances and equipment.

The latest IEA report highlights that buildings are responsible for about 30% of global energy consumption and over half of electricity demand.

Implementing energy efficiency policies can significantly reduce energy consumption while maintaining or improving the quality of energy services, contributing to emissions reduction and economic savings for consumers.

Towards the Era of Sustainable Buildings: Innovations and Challenges

Technologies that improve flexible energy use in buildings can offer additional benefits, such as mitigating stress on electrical grids during peak hours. With the increase in built-up area globally, it is crucial to prioritize both efficiency and flexibility to ensure the sustainability of the global energy system.

The increasing electrification, evidenced by the tripling of residential heat pump sales between 2015 and 2022 and the 20% share of electric vehicles in total sales in 2023, intensifies energy demand.

To achieve the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to +1.5°C, as outlined in the Paris Agreement, the adoption of advanced energy technologies is essential, even though it increases electricity demand. The IEA predicts that electricity demand in buildings will grow significantly in the coming decades in all regions, doubling in China and increasing by two-thirds in the EU.

In countries like India, where air conditioners are expected to increase tenfold by 2050, the adoption of efficient buildings and energy standards for appliances could halve the increase in energy demand. The growing integration of wind and solar photovoltaic energy requires greater flexibility to manage variations in energy production.

Energy Efficiency: Benefits for Energy Consumers

Buildings are not just energy consumers; they can actively contribute to the solution. Through energy efficiency, on-site renewable energy production, and integration with the grid through smart sensors and automated controls, buildings themselves can adapt their energy consumption and participate in managing demand and supply fluctuations. Consumers benefit from this increased flexibility, being able, for example, to reduce electricity bills by shifting consumption to cheaper hours.

Interoperability between grids and buildings is fundamental for this energy dialogue, with devices able to automatically respond to grid signals. Initiatives like the UK standards for communicating appliances and demand response devices in Australia indicate that the spread of these technologies is increasing.

According to the IEA, ensuring the security and sustainability of the global energy system requires a holistic approach that includes building energy efficiency, the integration of renewable energy, and flexibility in managing energy demand and supply.