CITIZENSHIP FOR A BETTER TOMORROW, SAVE ENERGY TODAY The energy on Earth is not in unlimited supply. Furthermore, energy can take plenty of time to regenerate. This certainly makes it essential to conserve energy. Energy conservation is achievable by using energy more efficiently and reducing the amount of service usage. Energy efficiency Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. Using less energy has lots of benefits: you can save money and help the environment. A perfectly energy-efficient machine would convert all of the energy put into the machine to useful work. Improvements Improvements in energy efficiency are usually achieved by adopting a more efficient technology or production process or by applying commonly accepted methods to reduce energy losses. For example, modern appliances, such as freezers, ovens, stoves, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers, use significantly less energy than older appliances. Buildings are responsible for approximately 40% of energy consumption and 36% of CO₂ emissions in the EU. , about 35% of the EU’s buildings are over 50 years old and almost 75% of building stock is energy inefficient. Therefore, the renovation of existing buildings has the potential to lead to significant energy savings, which could reduce the EU’s total energy consumption by 5-6% and lower CO₂ emissions by about 5%. Currently Reducing energy use It is also seen as a solution to the problem of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), improved energy efficiency in buildings, industrial processes and transportation could reduce the world’s energy needs in 2050 by one third and help control global emissions of greenhouse gases. Energy efficiency and renewable energy are said to be the of sustainable energy policy and are high priorities in the sustainable energy hierarchy. twin pillars 14. Read and choose the correct option. Energy Labelling In the European Union, many products such as washing machines, refrigerators and cooking carry energy labels and have been designed to minimum energy efficiency standards. Energy labels help choose energy efficient products. The labelling for individual product groups are currently created under the EU’s Energy Labelling Directive, a process managed by the European Commission. are labelled on a scale of A (A+++ up to 2021), the most efficient, to G, efficient. The result of these labels and standards will be an energy saving of around 175 million tonnes of oil by 2030, roughly to the annual primary energy consumption of Italy. For consumers, this means a saving of €465 year on household energy . 1. everyday / daily / dairy 2. devices / tools / appliances 3. require / meet / respect 4. user / consumers / clients 5. requirements / requests / questions 6. Stuff / Products / Objects 7. the less / last / least 8. similar / equal / equivalent 9. per / for / a 10. checks / bills / notes Adapted from: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency/energy-efficient-products 15. Listen to a series of tips on how to save energy at home and create a table to summarise them. GLOSSARY : : currently al momento twin pillar colonna portante; pilastro