Average international energy efficiency decreased since 2018, report finds
According to the latest International Energy Efficiency Scorecard from the nonprofit American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), countries’ limited energy saving efforts have cost them ground since 2018, leaving climate goals in jeopardy.
The organization warned that countries will need to rapidly scale their efficiency efforts to meet pledges and reduce planet-warming emissions or face a crisis. No country came anywhere near a high score in the past four years. On a 100-point scale, 48.5 was the average, and the top spot was 74.5, occupied for the first time by France. The remainder of the top five spots were occupied by the U.K. (72.5), Germany and the Netherlands (each with 71.5), and Italy (68.5).
“Countries need energy efficiency now more than ever, especially as climate impacts worsen and gas prices soar,” Steve Nadel, report coauthor and ACEEE’s executive director, said. “Efficiency can halve energy use and emissions while reducing dependence on foreign oil and pain at the pump.”
Energy efficiency is, according to Nadel, also commonly the least expensive way to address growing energy demands worldwide. This can include increasing building performance standards and pivoting to electric vehicles rather than gas guzzlers. The report comes when the Russian invasion of Ukraine has rattled energy markets and jumped prices, potentially jeopardizing larger efforts even as many countries have voiced commitments to deeper emissions cuts.
In all, the report card ranked 25 of the world’s largest energy users according to 36 efficiency metrics. Notables included France, which wrestled the top spot from Germany for overall efforts but also placed first in transportation thanks to a scheme that sees bonus payments for EVs financed by fees levied on emission-intensive vehicles and plans to end sales of new cars and light commercial vehicles that utilize fossil fuels by 2040, among other measures. It also boasts comprehensive mandatory building codes and performance standards.
The Netherlands was the list’s most improved nation, jumping four spots in as many years. It earned the top place for buildings and national efforts, though, because as of 2018, it ceased allowing new homes to be connected to the gas grid and plans to make existing homes switch to all-electric or hybrid heat pumps in 2026. All construction in the nation must now be almost energy neutral and starting next year, office buildings will follow new building performance requirements.
“Top-scoring countries, though far from perfect, offer ideas for what other countries can do to increase their energy security, cut emissions, and save money,” Sagarika Subramanian, the report’s lead author and ACEEE senior research analyst, said. “Notably, they’re rapidly scaling purchases of EVs by offering incentives and, in a key opportunity for the United States, France, and the Netherlands are cutting energy waste by adopting building performance standards.”
After its score fell slightly, largely due to efforts undertaken by the Trump administration, the United States remained in 10th place on the list, with China now placed just ahead of it.
