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Energy savings
…increased activity, such as home building and increased home sizes. In the transport sector, most efficiency improvements were realised in passenger vehicles – around one-sixth of the total. These energy savings were higher than the increased demand due to the rising number, frequency and distance of people travelling. Efficiency improvements in freight transport, such as trucks, drove around 1% of the total energy savings. This was lower than the rise in freight transport activity over the same period. Need more information? IEA (2025), Energy End-uses and Efficiency Indicators.IEA (2023), Decomposition of change in IEA total final energy use.
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Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency
As energy efficiency continues to gain attention as a key resource for economic and social development across all economies, understanding its real value is increasingly important. The multiple benefits approach seeks to expand the perspective of energy efficiency beyond the traditional measure of energy savings by identifying and measuring its impacts in full bloom.
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Gaining an Edge
The Role of Energy Efficiency in Enhancing Competitiveness Energy efficiency delivers more than energy savings and emission reductions – it can also improve the competitiveness of countries and firms. From increased profitability to job creation, energy efficiency helps firms compete amid high costs, growing demand, and rising trade pressures. In today’s global context, energy efficiency is not only a matter of energy policy, but also of economic policy.The report analyses historical progress in industrial energy efficiency and its role in enhancing industrial competitiveness. It includes comparisons of firm-level energy efficiency, identifying performance gaps and opportunities for further improvement. Drawing…
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Affordability
…India, time-saving appliance ownership, such as of washing machines or refrigerators, is associated with a 15% increase of employment among women and an increased school attendance by older children.As people gain access to electricity, they acquire new equipment, often starting with light bulbs, followed by televisions, and finally fans, particularly in hot locations. As available power increases and electricity becomes more reliable, refrigerators are installed as well. For many products, such as refrigerators, highly efficient models use less than half of the energy of inefficient models. Efficiency can thus lead to improved access to affordable energy services. IEA…
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Competitiveness
…shown to lead to improved product quality and consistency, contributing to brand reputation.Improved resource use, such as reduced equipment downtime and unplanned shutdowns, lower maintenance costs, and potentially reduced staff requirements for operation and monitoring. Efficiency has also been shown to increase worker health and safety, reducing the incidence of work-related accidents and health insurance costs.Reduced waste production, such as less use of materials and process water.Combined, these multiple benefits can more than double the benefits of energy cost savings. Need more information? IEA (2025), Gaining an Edge: The Role of Energy Efficiency in Enhancing Competitiveness.
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Asset values
…price premiums are positive impacts for building owners, it is important to also consider the effect energy efficiency improvements have on building occupants or renters. Increasing the quality of a rented space through energy efficiency can achieve increased thermal, noise and light comfort; improved health, safety and security, and reduced energy bills and operational costs. These benefits can result in improved tenant satisfaction and improved ability to rent the space.Rent increases associated with the retrofit should be in line with energy cost savings to maintain affordability. Policy tools, such as mandatory energy performance ratings, financial incentives and tenant protections…
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Ramping up Heat Pumps in Moldova: A Roadmap
…adoption including the high upfront costs of heat pump technology and installation, alongside limited industry experience. Public awareness and demand for heat pumps remain low, with many consumers deterred by cost and maintenance concerns.This roadmap takes stock of the current landscape, draws on the experience of other countries and offers policy recommendations to spark a discussion and advance heat pump adoption in Moldova. Read about the three pillars for ramping up heat pumps Explore how Moldova could enhance energy security, reduce emissions, stimulate job growth and lower heating costs with targeted policies to accelerate the deployment of heat pumps.
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Health
…and life satisfaction. A closer look at wider health impacts Energy efficiency policies across the world have shown positive health impacts for the population. For instance, in a programme in Australia, 49% of participants reported better health due to efficient heating systems. In a South African programme, energy retrofits led to a 81% reduction in self-reported illness among households. Meanwhile, the evaluation of the Warm Up New Zealand Programme concluded that 90% of all benefits are health-related, with hospital admissions for respiratory conditions dropping by 43%, saving the country over USD 1 billion in health costs. In Ireland…
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Emission reductions
…to clean cooking, air pollution is linked to around 3.7 million premature deaths a year. Replacing open fires and inefficient stoves with cleaner, more modern stoves and fuels reduces household air pollution and improves efficiency. Indoor air pollution from liquid petroleum gas (LPG) cookstoves is only around 5% of pollution from traditional biomass, while being over three times more efficient. Switching from LPG to electric cooking would further reduce indoor air pollution by 25% and is over 1.5 times more efficient. Need more information? IEA (2024), Energy Efficiency 2024.IEA (2023), A Vision for Clean Cooking Access for All.
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Jobs
…on economic structure and energy efficiency measure. By lowering energy spending, energy efficiency also helps foster business growth and competitiveness. Energy efficiency offers a wide array of job opportunities, including in installation and repair but also in the manufacturing, supply and distribution of efficient equipment. Key analysis A review of studies shows that an investment of USD 1 million can create and maintain for one year between 5 and 22 jobs in the buildings sector, between 4 and 14 jobs in the industrial sector, and between 5 and 15 jobs in the transport sector. A closer look at job location Energy efficiency spurs job creation…
