Energy consumption in buildings is four times higher than that of the global average, an advisor to CEO of Iranian Fuel Conservation Organization said.
"The household sector in Iran consumes an equivalent of 1 million barrels of oil per day that is nearly eight times worse than the most energy-efficient countries," Hamed Houri Jafari was also quoted as saying by ISNA on Wednesday.
Comparing energy consumption in different sectors in Iran with those of other countries, he noted that a large amount of energy is wasted in the household sector whereas the lion’s share of energy in developed countries is consumed in industries.
According to Jafari, who is also a faculty member of the Institute for International Energy Studies, the massive energy consumption is rooted in poorly insulated walls, age-old heating and cooling installations, and inefficient light bulbs.
"Due to the huge energy subsidies, Iran is one of the most energy inefficient countries, with an energy intensity three times higher than the global average and 2.5 times the Middle East average," he said, adding that the roads, energy and industries ministries, along with the agricultural and petrochemical sectors, are top Iranian energy consumers.
Energy intensity is a measure of the energy efficiency calculated as units of energy per unit of gross domestic product. High energy intensities indicate a high price or cost of converting energy into GDP and vice versa.
"Iran's energy intensity stood at 0.8 ton in 2015, an equivalent to 6,000 barrels of oil," Jafari said, adding that in the same period, Japan, South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE's energy intensity amounted to 0.1 (0.733barrels), 0.2 (1.466 barrels), 0.27 (1.97 barrels), 0.4 (2.93 barrels) and 0.12 (0.87 barrels) tons respectively, indicating a big difference between Iran and that of other states.
The official added that energy consumption in the country's steel, cement and petrochemical industries is 150, 100 and 25 times higher that the global average respectively.
Energy officials, including Ali Vakili, IFCO's managing director, believe the government needs to curb energy consumption.
Outdated industries need to boost the energy efficiency of machinery and production procedures. Even public consumption trends should be reformed to cut wastage.
Iran consumed 2,873 tons of oil equivalent per capita in 2012, roughly the same as Italy with an economy over four times its size, according to World Bank estimates.
--- Practical Measures
Referring to practical measures not only to encourage the judicious use of energy by changing consumption patterns but also to enhance the quality of building materials and offering house owners incentives for judicious energy use, Jafari noted that a memorandum of understanding was signed between Iran Fuel Conservation Company, a subsidiary of the National Iranian Oil Company and Tehran Construction Engineering Organization.
The official believes IFCO and TCEO should draw on their mutual experience to find better ways to deal with energy waste in buildings.
According to Ahmadreza Tavakkoli, director of Iran Energy Efficiency Organization, buildings are very energy-intensive, gobbling up 50% of electricity and 40% of gas consumption.
Energy waste is a critical issue and needs to be dealt with systemically, warning that Iran would turn into a major energy importer within a few years if the problem is not resolved immediately.
