EU targets 'intelligent' light-bulbs in climate battle
LEIGH PHILLIPS
14.05.2008 @ 09:23 CET
Information technologies that improve the efficiency of everyday items such as light-bulbs, the heating of buildings and how electricity is distributed can produce large energy savings and are an important weapon in the struggle against climate change, the European Commission has said.
On Tuesday (13 May), the commission announced it was to promote the use of information and communications technologies (ICT) to improve energy efficiency throughout the economy, starting with buildings, lighting and the power grid.
Intelligent light bulbs automatically adjust to natural light and people's presence (Photo: wikipedia)
"The most advanced computer servers consume the same amount of energy as a standard light bulb; if widely used they could offer potential energy savings of up to 70 percent," said the commission in a statement.
"Research and rapid take-up of innovative energy-efficient ICT solutions will be crucial to lowering emissions across the whole economy," said information society commissioner Viviane Reding.
Specifically, the commission will encourage the ICT sector itself - which at present accounts for 2 percent of global CO2 emissions - to become carbon neutral in its own activities.
But the real gains from ICT in regards to climate change are the development of technologies that support energy efficiency in the rest of the economy. To this end, the commission is to support research and development in this area.
Without action, the EU's energy consumption is expected to rise by as much as 25 percent by 2012, which would increase EU emissions despite renewable energy targets. However, ICTs, if directed to sustainable uses, could increase energy efficiency in all areas of the economy while continuing to account for 40 percent of Europe's productivity growth, according to the commission.
The commission is to focus on three areas in particular: the development of intelligent light-bulbs, smart-metering of electricity use in buildings and the decentralisation of power grids.
Some 20 percent of world electricity is used for lighting. Changing to energy-efficient light bulbs could halve today's energy consumption for lighting by 2025 – something many people are doing voluntarily.
However, intelligent light bulbs, which automatically adjust to natural light and people's presence will have an even greater effect.
The heating, cooling and lighting of buildings account for more than 40 percent of European energy consumption. ICT can be used to continuously monitor data to optimise lighting, ventilation and equipment performance and provide consumers real-time updates on their energy consumption to stimulate behavioural changes.
In Finland, this smart metering encouraged consumers to increase energy efficiency by 7 percent.
Energy generation and distribution uses one third of all primary energy. Electricity generation could be made more efficient by 40 percent and its transport and distribution by 10 percent. ICTs could make not only the management of power grids more efficient but also facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources.
Denmark generates half its electricity through decentralised grids, with wind power accounting for 20 percent of all electricity. As a result, its C02 emissions fell from 937 to 517 g/kWh from 1990-2005.
The commission believes that promoting a cutting-edge market for such energy-efficient technologies is also a potentially long-term source of competitiveness.