Energy efficiency is the practice of using less energy to provide the same amount of useful output from a service, such as heating water, lighting a room or cooling a fridge.
Over the last decade, various technologies have been developed to improve energy efficiency in the residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural and transport sectors.
Residential
– High-efficiency home heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems: In the past, air conditioning units operated with fixed-speed compressors.
Inverter air conditioning units can use between 25 and 50 per cent less energy to cool a room by adjusting the compressor speed to control the refrigerant flow rate, based on the temperature of the incoming air. This is a very effective way to maintain cool indoor air while minimising energy use.
– Insulation: This helps to reduce the amount of energy needed to cool or heat a building by radiating heat back to its source. Commendably in TT, it has become a standard practice to use roofing insulation for home construction.
– Energy efficient appliances: New technological innovations are being introduced regularly to improve the efficiency of household appliances such as clothes dryers, washing machines, microwave ovens and fridges.
Commercial
– Efficient consumer electronics: For both commercial and home offices, it is highly advisable to use electronics with energy-efficient features such as sleep mode, low-power displays, smart chargers, energy-efficient processors and solar power.
– Commercial refrigeration: Businesses such as restaurants, supermarkets and fishing depots can save money and energy by optimising their refrigeration equipment to reduce energy consumption.
One of the features included in modern commercial refrigeration equipment is an automated door-management system that reduces energy lost by open doors.
– LED lighting with sensors: Motion-sensor lighting, coupled with LED lighting fixtures, can significantly affect energy usage, particularly in offices where lights are traditionally left on for 24 hours.
– Enhancements to the building envelope: Both residential and commercial buildings can improve energy efficiency by applying an energy-smart design that allows for natural lighting and ventilation.
Windows that incorporate infrared-insulating and ultraviolet light-reflecting glass, as well as insulating gas fill between glass layers, can also reduce the flow of heat between the interior and exterior of a building.
Industrial and agricultural
– Fuel-efficient motors and pumps: The industrial and agricultural sectors rely heavily on motors and pumps for plant and equipment operations.
Adjustable or variable speed drive (A/VSD) motors control motor speed and torque in relation to the demand on the motor.
– Programmable irrigation systems: Programmable water distribution systems, such as drip irrigation mechanisms, allow water and fertiliser to drip slowly onto the roots of plants, reducing water wastage. A system of pipes, tubes and emitters can be b
