Our needs in the workplace and in daily life are all supported by energy. Energy efficiency is defined as using energy in the most correct way without a decrease in living standards, production and labor. Energy efficiency, which is basically possible to achieve by using more efficient products and technologies and changing individual behaviors, is to do the same job using less energy.
One of the most important issues covered by energy efficiency is energy saving. Energy saving, which is perceived as underuse and restriction of energy among the public, is actually the minimization of energy need without impeding the economic development and social welfare of the amount of energy consumed through the evaluation of energy wastes and the prevention of existing energy losses, without reducing quality and performance.
So why is energy efficiency important?
The increasing world population and the need for consumption cause more energy use. Although the need for energy is increasing day by day, unfortunately our energy resources are not unlimited. For this reason, energy efficiency and energy saving issues are becoming more important every day. When we ask the question of why energy efficiency is important, the reasons we encounter are;,
1. The depletion of fossil resources in the apparent future,
2. Alternative sources are not yet economical,
3. Rising prices due to increased demand,
4. The inability of domestic resources to prevent dependence on imports,
5. It can be listed as an alarm of ecological balance.
While all these require all institutions and organizations to carry out remedial studies within themselves, they also require countries to make their own action plans.
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Energy consumption is increasing rapidly in parallel with population growth, industrialization and technological developments both in the world and in Turkey. The world meets 80% of its energy needs from fossil fuels, but oil and fossil fuel reserves are limited. Due to the decrease in fossil fuel reserves, environmental pollution and destruction of nature, renewable energy sources are gaining importance day by day.
Prioritizing our own resources in meeting energy needs and turning to renewable resources will be of great importance in future plans. Considering the effective use of energy resources in the long term, their costs and their effects on society, renewable energy sources are very important for energy efficiency.
With less cost and less primary resources, benefiting more with a small amount of energy produced without harming the environment is the basis of energy efficiency. Accordingly, renewable energy sources, which affect the environment much less negatively than fossil resources, are economical in terms of life cycle and are inexhaustible, are indispensable for energy efficiency.
Energy Efficiency Policies in Turkey
Rapidly developing Turkey has an increasing energy requirement every day. This requirement increases consumption as well as the demand for existing energy. Energy consumption, which increases by 4-5% every year in the world, is around 2 times the world average in Turkey. For this reason, energy efficiency policies are one of the issues that need to be addressed sensitively because they play a key role in the sustainability of economic growth and social development goals on the one hand and the reduction of total greenhouse gas emissions on the other.
In relation to this, it is aimed to reduce Turkey’s Energy Intensity (energy consumed per national income) by at least 20% by 2023 compared to 2011 with energy efficiency studies. Turkey’s first energy efficiency action plan, the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan (2017-2023), entered into force in 2018. With the implementation of 55 actions in 6 different sectors, it is expected to save 23.9 million tons of oil equivalent oil (MTEP) energy cumulatively with an investment of $ 10.9 billion until 2023. This corresponds to a 14% reduction in Turkey’s primary energy consumption in 2023. The savings expected to be provided until 2033 are $30.2 billion.
For the purpose of increasing efficiency in the use of energy resources and energy;
- Trainings (energy manager trainings, survey project trainings and international trainings)
- Studies (industrial facilities, commercial and service buildings, public buildings, dwellings)
- Authorizations (Energy Efficiency Consultancy Companies, Universities and Professional Chambers)
- Measurement, Monitoring and Evaluation, Auditing
- Energy Efficiency Supports (Efficiency Increasing Project (VAP) and Voluntary Agreements)
- Promotion and Awareness
- Energy Efficiency Forum and Fair
- National and International Projects Development
- Planning and Coordination of Productivity-Related Activities
- Efficiency and Training Activities on Productivity, Greenhouse Gas Release and Monitoring
Such activities are carried out by the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources of the Republic of Turkey.
What Can Be Done to Improve Energy Efficiency?
Energy efficiency can be achieved with measures that can be taken in daily life and workplaces. The first thing to do on this path is an energy efficiency analysis. In stokeholds where energy consumption is highest in enterprises or buildings; Data such as working efficiency, equipment efficiency, chimney efficiency and the cost incurred for each unit produced should be collected and examined together. Today, there are tracking devices used to determine efficiency in stokeholds and many areas where energy is used. It is very important to analyze the results of the data obtained from these devices well and to apply measures according to the results of the analysis in order to achieve success in energy efficiency.
In addition, in areas where energy efficiency is desired to be achieved, installations and the tools used should be regularly maintained. Disruption of these maintenance will lead to more and more energy use every day. At the same time, it is necessary to take precautions against leaks in installation systems.
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