Saving and efficiency; in fact, these two words, which have completely different meanings, are used interchangeably in daily life. Since energy is a cost item, it is meant to control this cost when it comes to energy saving or energy efficiency.
The word saving, which comes from the Arabic origin of consume, means the restriction of consumption. When it comes to energy saving, what is meant is the restriction of energy consumption, but the effects of the restriction of consumption on production are ignored. Although it does not exactly match up, the savings paradox, which is an economic term, can also be used also for energy saving. Economists use the term savings paradox to refer to the fact that citizens making more savings (reducing expenditures) does not increase but rather reduces the national income. Since energy consumption is related to cost rather than income, when the saving paradox is mentioned, restricting energy consumption will reduce costs, but the effects of this restriction may cause losses above the decreasing cost. Let's try to explain with an example to make the subject more understandable. Assume that the heating/cooling system in a building is switched off at certain times as part of the energy saving. The closed heating/cooling system will not consume energy and our energy cost will be reduced. However, the restriction of the physical movements of the personnel working in that building due to the extreme heat/cold will reduce production. In addition, inappropriate ambient temperature will increase the rate of illness. Decreased production and loss of workforce due to illness will bring more costs than energy saving and decreasing costs. And that's exactly what the saving paradox is.
The main difference between energy efficiency and energy saving is not the restriction of consumption but the application of it according to the principle of determining it depending on the requirement. When energy efficiency is applied in the building in our example, heating/cooling will not be completely turned off, but will be operated when and as much as needed. In this way, the appropriate ambient temperature will be provided for the personnel working, and there will be no work loss due to the decrease in production or disease.
Energy efficiency is not a static application that is finished by applying it once. On the contrary, it is a dynamic process that continues from the first use of the building until it completes its economic life. This process continues continuously from the total consumption of the entire building to the consumption of the smallest energy consuming unit. The energy efficiency process starts with measurement; you cannot know without measuring and you cannot manage without knowing. We should make measurements at certain time intervals throughout the economic life of the building and continuously record the measured values.
The second stage of the process is evaluation. Comparison of measured and recorded values allows us to be informed about our energy consumption. At the end of the comparison, we can determine the points where consumption is different from the values that should be.
The last stage of the process is improvement, and it is ensured that the energy consumption is brought to the required values at the points where it is problematic with maintenance, repair or renewal works.
In the energy efficiency process, software-aided electromechanical systems called building control, building management or building automation are used. These systems can measure at the desired frequency, record the measured values in the database with time information, analyze such data and develop reports.
