Energy efficiency
a term defining such energy management that aims to use the minimum amount of energy needed at any stage of the action taken to provide given product and/or services.
According to the Energy Efficiency Act1, it is “the ratio of the achieved utility effect of a given facility, technical device or installation, under typical conditions of its use or exploitation, to the amount of energy consumed by this facility, technical device or installation, or as a result of the delivered service which is essential to obtain this effect” Improvement of energy efficiency in construction sector is most often achieved through the use of energy-saving technologies such as e.g. application of thermal insulation or energy management systems (BMS), and in the case of production processes by, for example, recovering waste heat by using heat pumps.
Every three years the Minister responsible for energy issues in Poland develops the national action plan on Energy efficiency. The national action plan includes, in particular: 1) a description of planned programs containing actions aimed at improvment of energy efficiency in selected sectors of the economy, 2) definition of the national target in terms of energy efficiency; 3) information about the energy savings achieved, including transmission or distribution, in delivery and in final energy consumption; 4) strategy for supporting investments in the renovation of buildings containing: a) the results of the inspection of buildings located in the territory of the Republic of Poland, b) definition of methods for reconstruction or renovation of buildings referred to in point a, c) estimates of potential energy savings as a result of the reconstruction or renovation of buildings referred to in point (a).
The current (Fourth) National Action Plan, elaborated in 2017, and adopted by the Council of Ministers on January 23, 2018, is available on the Ministry of Energy website at
(https://www.gov.pl/web/energia/krajowy-plan-dzialan-dotyczacy-efektywnosci-energetycznej)
[1] Dz.U. 2016 poz. 831, USTAWA z dnia 20 maja 2016 r. o efektywności energetycznej Energy Efficiency Act from 20.05.2016, Polish Journal of Laws: Dz.U. 2016 poz.