When we talk about major climate challenges, the focus is very often on the generation of cleaner energy. But we must also talk about efficiency and energy saving, that is, making the most of the energy we have. In fact, energy efficiency is considered as an energy source in itself. Efficiency and savings are two concepts that go hand in hand, but are they really the same thing?

The European Union distinguishes the concepts of efficiency and energy saving: efficiency is the "relationship between the production of a performance, service, good or energy, and the expenditure of energy", a relationship that can be improved through "technological, behavioural and/or economic changes" (Directive 2012/27/EU). Energy saving, on the other hand, refers to "the amount of energy saved, determined by measuring and/or estimating consumption before and after the implementation of some improvement measure”.

For its part, for the International Energy Agency (IEA), energy efficiency consists of "using less energy in the provision of the same service".

The IEA, the European Commission and other public and private entities estimate that up to 40% of the energy that will be used in the future will be the result of the implementation of efficiency and saving measures. In this sense, according to the Council of Europe, in the last 15 years "almost a third of energy has been saved compared to the consumption forecasts for 2030 made in 2007" thanks to the application of efficiency measures.

However, it is not enough just to use less energy, but it must also come from "clean" and renewable sources. All this to achieve the European goal of reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, at least to 55% by 2030, and to zero by 2050, as set out in the European Green Deal.