The Difference Between Energy Efficiency vs Conservation
Key Takeaways:
Conservation uses less energy by forgoing needs.
Efficiency meets needs with less energy used.
In commercial settings, efficiency is the best strategy for end-use reduction.
Fighting the impacts of climate change will require increased energy efficiency and conservation. While both lower total energy usage, how they differ in doing so is critical to understanding the necessary transition our energy systems must make. Broadly speaking, energy efficiency focuses on the performance of energy-consuming devices and systems while conservation focuses on actions that reduce the amount of energy used.
Conservation
Conservation simply uses less energy. Turning off lights when no one’s in the room is the perfect example. Conservation is all about using less by powering down items not being used, unplugging appliances not used frequently, and using more natural light.
Conservation prevents energy waste by relying on the habits of users. Getting in the habit of conserving electricity is a powerful tool for reducing overall energy consumption but convincing users to establish those habits can be a tough sell. Running dishwashers less, using less air conditioning, and letting in more natural light requires lifestyle changes some tenants don’t want to make. That’s especially true in commercial office spaces, where energy users are at least a few steps removed from billing.
Building new energy conservation habits is easier when the money wasted on energy is coming out of your pocket. When the bills get paid by the company no matter how much is used or saved, there’s little incentive for new habits. Plus conservation may not even be possible—most commercial leases have service level agreements (SLA) requiring setpoints to be maintained regardless of occupancy. That makes office spaces some of the biggest energy wasters.
Efficiency
Energy efficiency is using less energy to accomplish the same result. Instead of raising the air conditioning set temperature to conserve energy, efficiency uses a better HVAC system to achieve the same set temperature with less energy.
Energy efficiency is an appealing energy reduction strategy for commercial spaces because it doesn't require altering the consumption behaviors of tenants. Savings aren’t nearly as pronounced but they can be compounded because efficiency upgrades don’t rely on anything or anyone. Turning a light off saves energy, but forgetting to turn it off once can eat into savings. Energy efficiency is always ‘on.’
More efficient light bulbs, energy-efficient appliances, upgraded boilers/chillers, smart switches, smart thermostats, and occupancy sensors can all combine to save serious money in the long term. Because they don’t rely on habits or behavior, efficiency upgrades are preferred in commercial settings.
Meeting the challenges of climate change requires both conservation and efficiency. Conservation may be more impactful on a personal or household level but in commercial real estate settings where landlords cannot dictate behavior, energy efficiency is paramount. Automated building management systems tied into smart switches, thermostats, and occupancy sensors turn conservation and efficiency into a 24/7 process. Nantum OS is laser-focused on optimizing building-wide efficiency, lowering energy use while maintaining the specified level of comfort tenants expect. Better buildings provide all the energy tenants need while auditing wasteful and inefficient uses around the clock.
