Why energy efficiency matters and how to achieve it

The current global energy crisis has once again exposed the vulnerability of our societies with regard to energy security. Many countries, including the Philippines and Slovenia, have invested significant resources in renewable energy sources, which is an extremely important yet still only a partial solution to ever-increasing demand for energy on one hand and to the challenges associated with climate change on the other.

The key to energy resilience and climate security lies in energy efficiency. Energy efficiency means using less energy to achieve the same or even higher productivity. This means we pay less for electricity while also protecting our environment. Energy efficiency makes us less vulnerable to geopolitical disruptions and allows us to improve our standard of living. By using less energy to achieve the same (or better) results – whether in buildings, transportation or industry – we reduce costs, improve competitiveness, lower electricity bills and cut emissions. In a context of high electricity costs and skyrocketing oil prices, energy efficiency is the solution.

Slovenia is actively implementing a national strategy to combat climate change and improve energy efficiency, with the goal of achieving climate neutrality by 2050. In collaboration with private companies, the government is focusing on decarbonization, the use of renewable energy sources and the green transition. This is in line with the European Union energy efficiency measures that aim for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on imported fossil fuels, and lowering of energy bills and thus strengthen energy security.

The EU Energy Efficiency Directive from 2023 establishes energy efficiency as a binding principle across all economic sectors in the European Union.

The Slovenian government promotes energy efficiency through various measures, such as energy-efficient building renovations, the industry’s transition away from fossil fuels, the introduction of digital tools for energy monitoring and the promotion of investments in research, development and innovation. The Eco Fund, already established in 1993 with the aim of lowering energy costs, reducing energy poverty and supporting green investments, implements measures to promote green growth, environmental protection and energy efficiency through subsidies and low-interest loans.

Recently, the Slovenian government has invested significant funds in energy efficiency through the Slovenian Partnership for Energy and the Environment in Defense (SIENE), a partnership between the Ministry of Defense, academia and the private sector. As a result, a range of high-tech energy efficiency solutions has already been introduced, which are applicable both in the military and in disaster management and have attracted the attention of key international stakeholders, including the EU, NATO and the UN.

This is our response to the impact of increasingly severe climate change on our lives. There is a growing awareness of the critical role played by the defense sector. The armed forces and civil protection play an increasingly important role in providing humanitarian aid and support in the event of natural and man-made disasters.

At the same time, like other sectors, the armed forces and civil protection must reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels without compromising their operational effectiveness. Therefore, the resilience of military infrastructure must be increased to better cope with geopolitical events and climate risks, and their equipment must be adapted to operate in extreme weather conditions. Energy efficiency and the green transition have thus become an important part of the modernization of the armed forces.

With all this in mind, the Embassy of Slovenia, together with the Stratbase Institute, the aforementioned SIENE partnership and the International Center for the Promotion of Entrepreneurship (ICPE), will organize a conference and business meetings in Manila in April titled: “Science2Business: Energy Resilience for Greater Security,” through which we aim to explore best practices in transferring science, research and development and innovation to businesses, discuss digitalization and artificial intelligence in crisis management and promote energy efficiency in security sectors.

We aim to highlight the importance of building knowledge-based societies to become more cost-effective, resilient and secure. The B2B meeting, which will bring together Slovenian companies and renowned research institutes and their Filipino counterparts, is designed to support practical cooperation in the fields of energy resilience, critical infrastructure, environmental technologies, digital security, disaster response, dual-use technologies and industrial technologies.

The choices we make about energy will shape our prosperity and security. For Slovenia and the Philippines, investing in energy efficiency is no longer optional, but essential. Slovenia stands ready to cooperate with the Philippines through technology sharing, academic collaboration and public-private partnership. From smart energy management systems to advanced electric drive systems, from energy efficiency planning and integration of renewable energy sources to digital security, from critical infrastructure protection to emergency response, there is much we can achieve together.

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Dr. Smiljana Knez is the Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia.