Heat pumps in industry
Energy Efficiency
Policy
Resource Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Hub Members share their real-world experience through closed-door Policy Exchange Workshops, exchanging policy design processes, implementation challenges, case studies, and essential informational resources. The Policy Insights below highlight material from this series of internal exchanges. This is complemented by selected reports, presentations, and videos.
The 17 Hub Members accounted for 67% of total final energy consumption worldwide in 2023, underscoring the aggregate impact that Members’ actions, informed by their ongoing exchanges, can have on global energy efficiency.
Select the sector or theme to filter all content on this page
Improving energy efficiency is among the most powerful ways to cut emissions, lower energy bills, and enhance energy security. It brings economic, social, and environmental benefits while helping countries advance towards energy and climate goals. A core principle of energy efficiency policy design is that single measures are less effective than packages of complementary ones comprising three essential elements: strong regulations, smart incentives, and reliable information.
The IEA’s Policy Package framework illustrates how these three elements reinforce one another with examples in buildings, transport, industry, appliances, and other end-use sectors. Regulations, for instance, can set minimum performance levels and create long-term certainty for markets. Complementary information from labels, audits, and awareness programmes would help consumers, suppliers, and policy makers take action. Incentives would then help consumers overcome financial and behavioural barriers to adopting the most efficient technologies.
Framework developed by
Policies are more effective
when they are set in the context of clear strategies and targets
Regulation is essential to exclude the worst performing equipment and practices from the market, to drive average efficiency levels up and to set rules for measurements of performance.
Information helps people make more efficient choices in what they buy and how they use energy.
Incentives make efficient options more attractive and speed up the upgrade and replacement of appliances, buildings and vehicles. They also encourage the use of new technologies and practices.
Implementation
is as important as policy design.
Ensure that the resources are in place to put policies into action.
Address vital elements such as capacity building, enforcement and monitoring.
It is important to assess policies and programmes so as to keep up to date with technology developments.
