Policy and decision makers, economists and engineers often have to choose between new-energy-generation installations for producing additional energy or reducing the energy consumption through energy efficiency measures. To enhance the decision-making process of the concerned parties with evidence-based comprehensive tools, we perform a literature review on the costs and benefits associated with energy efficiency and evaluate these costs and benefits against a new proposed framework.

While energy efficiency can contribute significantly towards improving access to modern energy services, energy sector investments in many developing countries have largely focused on increasing energy access by increasing supply. This is because the links between energy efficiency and energy access, is often overlooked. This oversight of energy efficiency is frequently a missed opportunity, as efficiency is often a very cost-effective energy resource.

The UN Sustainable Energy for All initiative aims to double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.i Efficient buildings are vital to achieving sustainable development because they align economic, social, and environmental objectives, creating triple bottom line benefits. However, the scale and pace of current actions around the world are insufficient to transform buildings into engines of the sustainable, energy efficient economy. This second-edition report reviews government policy options that can accelerate building energy efficiency improvements.