Energy Efficiency, Industrial  -  July 12, 2016

EIA data show global energy intensity on the decline

Image courtesy of the U.S. Energy Information Administration 

Worldwide energy intensity, measured as energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product, decreased by nearly one-third between 1990 and 2015, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. 

A decrease was seen in nearly all regions of the world, with reductions in energy intensity occurring both in the more developed economies of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, or OECD, and in the emerging nations of the non-OECD, the EIA wrote in a July 12 blog post. 

Differences in energy intensity across countries and regions generally correspond to underlying factors such as economic structure, climate and geography, the EIA said. Manufacturing-focused economies tend to use more energy per dollar of GDP than service-focused economies, for example. 

Historically, energy intensity levels in non-OECD countries have been higher than levels in OECD countries. In many non-OECD countries, economies have been industrializing and rely on more energy-intensive forms of energy use. In contrast, many OECD countries have transitioned from relying on energy-intensive manufacturing to using more services-based economic activities that are less energy intensive. Based on 2015 estimates, OECD countries used on average 12% less energy per dollar of GDP than non-OECD countries, the EIA said.

The agency wrote:

Energy efficiency policies also differ among different regions of the world, with the relative efficiency of buildings, vehicles, and industrial processes heavily influenced by the local regulations, incentives, and market competition. For example, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation, fuel economy standards are applied in approximately 80% of the world automobile market. The remainder of the world, while potentially influenced by regulated markets, lacks local efficiency standards. Building energy efficiency policies can also differ significantly across countries. Countries with more developed economies generally tend to have more stringent regulations on energy use and energy efficiency.

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