Energy efficiency refers to the operating state of a system for which energy consumption is minimized. In recent years it has often been associated with the concept of intelligent energy or smart grid.

Energy efficiency also aims to reduce the ecological, economic and social costs (direct and indirect) of energy production, transportation and consumption. It helps to reduce the ecological footprint (by reducing the energy footprint and sometimes the carbon footprint). It increases energy security, and adaptation to climate change and the fight against greenhouse gas emissions, ecological transition.

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Energy efficiency is an economic sector with strong development for the decades 2010 to 2030 or even 2050 for all the specialized actors. It is a field of innovation of the same importance as the renewable energies. It potentially concerns all the plans of the economy, including for the developing countries.

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