What is Energy Efficiency? Tips to save energy and money

Author: Araceli Buendía

Dpto. de Marketing de Efitherma

What is Energy Efficiency? Tips to save energy and money

Author: Araceli Buendía

Dpto. de Marketing de Efitherma

Energy efficiency

Cost Reduction and Sustainability

In a world where energy demand continues to increase, energy efficiency has become a priority for both homes and businesses. Optimizing energy consumption not only allows you to save on your electricity bill, but also helps reduce your environmental impact and encourages a more sustainable use of natural resources.

From energy-efficient appliances to advanced HVAC systems such as heat pumps, there are many ways to improve energy efficiency in our daily lives. In this guide, we will answer all the key questions on this topic and explore the best solutions to reduce consumption without sacrificing comfort or performance.

What is energy efficiency?

Energy efficiency is the ability to use the least amount of energy to carry out an activity without losing the quality of the result. In other words, it means doing more with less, reducing energy waste and optimising its use. This not only saves money on electricity bills, but also contributes to the sustainability of the planet by reducing emissions of polluting gases. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), improving energy efficiency could reduce global CO2 emissions by 40% by 2040.

Why is energy efficiency important?

Energy consumption has increased considerably in recent decades. According to Eurostat, 75% of energy consumption in European households is for heating and hot water. Implementing energy efficiency measures can reduce this expenditure by up to 30%.

Cost reduction

Considerably reduces electricity and fuel costs.

Energy independence

Less dependence on fossil energy sources.

Less environmental impact

Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

What are the best strategies to improve energy efficiency at home?

According to the Instituto para la Diversificación y Ahorro de la Energía (IDAE), some effective measures include:

Efficient appliances: Energy categories (A / A+/ A++ or higher) can save up to 40% energy.
Thermal insulation: Improving insulation in windows and walls reduces the need for heating and cooling by 30%.
LED lighting: They consume 80% less than incandescent bulbs.
Photovoltaic installation: They can reduce the electricity bill by up to 70%.
Heat pumps: Their use for air conditioning and domestic hot water achieves an efficiency up to 4 times higher than conventional boilers.

What are the benefits of energy efficiency in companies?

Businesses can also take advantage of energy efficiency to:

Reduction of operating costs: A company that optimizes its energy consumption can reduce its electricity bill by up to 30%
Stand out from the competition: They can offer more competitive prices on their products and services.
Regulatory compliance and reduction of penalties: Energy regulations in the EU and Spain require the implementation of efficiency measures in buildings and industrial processes, which avoids possible financial penalties.
Increased investors and customers: Companies with sustainability and energy efficiency certifications generate greater trust and attract environmentally conscious customers.
Reducing CO2 emissions: Implementing efficient technologies can reduce the carbon footprint by 40%, meeting global climate goals.

How do I know if my home or business is energy efficient?

The easiest way is through an energy efficiency certificate, which evaluates energy consumption and recommends improvements. In Spain, this certificate is mandatory for the sale or rental of homes and must be renewed every 10 years.

If you want to apply for an energy efficiency certificate but don’t know how, we’ll explain it to you in this brief tutorial.

What role does technology play in energy efficiency?

Using smart thermostats can reduce energy consumption by 10-20%. In addition, digitalizing energy management through smart meters and optimization software allows real-time monitoring of consumption and detection of areas for improvement.

Sensors and automation: Smart buildings can automatically adjust lighting and HVAC based on occupancy and environmental conditions.
Energy storage: Advanced batteries such as lithium batteries allow the use of solar and wind energy, reducing dependence on the electrical grid.
Connected appliances: IoT (Internet of Things) devices can optimize electricity consumption by adjusting their operation according to usage patterns.
Heat recovery systems: In hospitality and industrial sectors, recovering residual heat from production processes can reduce energy consumption by up to 50%.

Heat pumps and energy efficiency

Heat pumps are one of the most efficient systems for air conditioning and domestic hot water. Their technology allows obtaining up to 4 kWh of heat for each kWh of electricity consumed, making them up to 400% more efficient than other systems.

Benefits of heat pumps:

Sustainability

They use renewable energy, which reduces CO2 emissions by 55%.

Energy saving

They can reduce consumption by up to 60% compared to other conventional systems.

Versatility

Heat pumps can produce heating, cooling and Domestic Hot Water.

Compatibility

Their performance is further improved when combined with photovoltaic solar panels.

How much does an efficient home save? Comparison of energy costs

Concept	Inefficient Housing	Efficient Housing	Savings (%)
Annual electricity consumption (kWh)	15513	7544	51.4
Total annual energy cost (€)	3577	1551	56.6
Annual heating consumption (kWh)	10000	4000	60.0
Annual hot water consumption (kWh)	3500	1500	57.1
Annual electricity cost (€)	2327	1132	51.4
Annual heating cost (€)	800	229	71.4
Annual cost of hot water (€)	450	190	57.8

How to achieve maximum energy efficiency?

Efitherma heat pumps are a highly efficient solution for air conditioning and domestic hot water production. Thanks to their advanced technology, these systems can reduce energy consumption by up to 60% compared to traditional boilers, providing a sustainable and cost-effective alternative.

One of the advantages offered by Efitherma is that it manufactures customised heat pumps, adapting to the needs of each project to maximise performance and energy savings.

In addition, these heat pumps have intelligent control, allowing remote management through mobile applications to maximize the energy efficiency of each installation.