Using energy efficiently

The cleanest energy is energy that is never used in the first place. Buildings, industry and transportation all offer vast potential to improve efficiency and conserve energy. The climate, and companies' balance sheets, will benefit.
Energy saving

Huge untapped potential

Beyond clean power generation, using all energy as efficiently as possible is a crucial aspect of a sustainable energy supply.

Intelligent, energy-saving products and solutions can produce tremendous savings – in terms of power and costs – in buildings, industry and transportation. Households can also become more efficient. Modern, smart home appliances use less than half as much energy as their predecessors from the 1990s.

Measured among the 23 biggest energy-using countries, Australia scores reasonably well for energy efficiency in buildings. Strong, mandatory energy codes have been in place here since the turn of the century. When it comes to transportation, the country’s largest single energy consumer, Australia comes second from bottom. In industry, too, there is still massive room for improvement.

Improving transportation

The future of transportation is electric. Whether in buses, trains, electric cars or even planes, electric motors are around three times as efficient as internal combustion engines. Emissions can be cut to almost zero when the power comes from renewable technologies. Electric vehicles can be integrated as part of a smart grid: their on-board batteries serving as buffers while connected to the grid.

Optimizing energy use in buildings

As much as 40% of the energy consumed worldwide is used in or for buildings, but continuous energy optimization can reduce this by a third or more. Intelligent building management systems substantially enhance efficiency and comfort, improving both the productivity of the building’s inhabitants and the competitiveness of companies.

Saving energy in industry

On average, energy accounts for 10% of all production costs. But in energy-intensive industries like steel, chemicals or pharmaceuticals, the percentage is much higher – as much as 40%, in fact. Changing energy markets and politics further increase regulation and cost pressures on industry. As a result, there is a great deal of potential for energy savings, and these can have a big impact on the balance.

Siemens Solutions

State-of-the-art applications for significant savings

When it comes to providing benefit for the environment and users at the same time, Siemens can offer a unique portfolio of products, systems, and solutions.
Buildings

Buildings

With Total Building Solutions (TBS), Siemens has achieved a leading level of integration. All electrical installations - HVAC, lighting, shades, access control, surveillance, safety and evacuation systems - are all designed to complement each other perfectly.

Mobility

Mobility

Electrical vehicles from Siemens - such as the low-floor Avenio tram - are an environmentally friendly, energy-saving alternative. Economical in terms of maintenance, repairs as well as energy, dividends of up to 30% are possible.

Industry

Industry

Siemens solutions can increase producers’ competitiveness, helping to secure production for the future. Innovative drive technologies, for example, enable savings of 30% and more ­– a major step toward energy-efficient production.

The Siemens commitment

0 million

euros invested in improving the energy efficiency of our own buildings and facilities

0 million

euros in annual savings expected from 2020 onwards

Siemens' innovative technologies not only create enormous savings for the customers, they also enable the company itself to reduce energy consumption and pollutants on hundreds of production sites. View the video to learn how Siemens will achieve climate-neutral manufacturing by 2030.

References

Shanghai tower

  • Advanced intelligent energy

  • World's safest high-voltage switchgear

  • Real-time electricity consumption monitoring

Shanghai tower

Avenio tram

  • Modular concept makes it fit everywhere

  • Quiet and environmentally compatible

  • Decades of cost-effective operation ensured

Avenio tram

Energy-efficient production

  • Chocolate manufacturer Ritter Sport to cut energy consumption by 1.5 percent each year

  • New energy management system to integrate all energy data and store it in a central database

  • Siemens supported commissioning and trained Ritter Sport’s employees on site

     

Ritter Sport

Related content

Energy Stories

Features, columns, reviews, opinions, photographie & multimedia from the global Siemens online magazine.

Digital Services for Energy

Powered by Sinalytics

Siemens Financial Services

Customized financial solutions for the implementation of efficient technologies in the energy market

Agility in Energy

Ahead of the challenge, ahead of the change