IEA Releases 2020 Energy Efficiency Indicators Database

Space heating is the largest end use in the residential sector in IEA (International Energy Agency) member countries, with approximately 48% share, according to a recent release by the agency. Since 2000, space heating intensity in households, which are defined as energy consumption per residential floor area, significantly decreased in most IEA countries. For instance, countries such as Australia, France, Germany, Korea, and Sweden have experienced reductions of more than 35% during this period. Such improvements can be attributed, for example, to better building insulation, refurbishment of old buildings, and improvements in heating equipment.

For residential emissions, the share of space heating tends to be significantly higher than for energy in countries with low-carbon electricity generation (such as France, Sweden and Switzerland); reflecting the challenge of decarbonizing the provision of this important energy service.

The results found from the latest data in the IEA energy efficiency indicators database suggest that there is still a vast untapped potential for energy saving and decarbonization in buildings. For these and more detailed insights across sectors and end uses (e.g. space cooling in services sector), as well as energy consumption, activity, and, for the first time, emissions end-use data for the four main final consumption sectors (residential, services, industry, and transport), please see the newly released 2020 edition of the IEA energy efficiency indicators database with more recent data up to 2018: https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-efficiency-indicators-2020.

SOURCE: The Weekly Propane Newsletter, July 2, 2020. Weekly Propane Newsletter subscribers receive all the latest posted and spot prices from major terminals and refineries around the U.S. delivered to inboxes every week. Receive a center spread of posted prices with hundreds of postings updated each week, along with market analysis, insightful commentary, and much more not found elsewhere.