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Buildings are responsible for approximately 40 percent of the world’s energy use, and some of the easiest and most substantial cuts can be found in this sector. Energy efficiency produces quick and significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and it nearly always pays for itself.

 

Energy efficiency is the low hanging fruit! This great opportunity is nevertheless generally not pursued, mainly due to the following three factors:

• Lack of knowledge about the gains to be made through energy efficiency.

• Lack of available capital.

• Lack of incentives, motivation and awareness among consumers.      

US President Barack Obama is among those who have realised this. Through “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009” he has introduced a 30 percent tax deduction on investments relating to a number of energy-efficiency measures and has increased the grant limit from $500 to $1,500. In addition, there is no upper limit to the tax deduction for those measures that require large investments. Replacing windows and doors, insulation, roofing, various heat pumps, hot water tanks, bioenergy heating, various heating and ventilation systems, solar panels, sun traps and mini wind turbines are included in the measures covered by the scheme. Commercial buildings receive a grant per square metre if they reduce energy consumption.