Smart Energy Coalition calls for improved energy efficiency standards

The open letter, published in January 2026 by the Smart Energy Coalition, calls for the adoption of global strategies designed to improve energy efficiency and reduce climate impacts across residential and commercial sectors.

One of the key areas of focus is the built environment, where HVAC&R equipment contributes up to 40% of energy usage.

In the letter, the coalition references global pledges from COP28 to invest in energy efficiency.

“The commitment made at COP28 by countries to double the annual rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030 put energy efficiency at the centre of the global climate agenda,” the letter reads. “To reach this goal, we urge policymakers at all levels to prioritise energy efficiency and to make it a cornerstone of their energy strategies.

“Well-designed energy efficiency policy provides incentives, reduces market barriers, and aligns the goals of businesses, governments and communities. As a result, everyone benefits from improved health and wellbeing, energy affordability, job creation and more, all whilst reducing emissions.”

Global policy principles

In the letter, the coalition advocates for five “global policy principles”:

1. Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and codes
   Support the manufacturing, distribution and use of highly efficient appliances, alongside the
   implementation of enhanced energy codes in buildings and operations.
2. Energy management and data transparency
   Encourage regular energy reviews and robust energy management plans that provide
   transparent energy data to help determine areas of energy loss and gains.
3. Circularity and renovation
   Promote passive techniques as well as circularity and renovations in buildings,
   appliances and operations.
4. Financing
   Increase investment in energy efficiency and support innovative financing methods to
   reach the US$1.5 trillion needed per year to meet the COP28 pledge and prevent
   investment flatlining.
5. Collaboration and leadership
   Keep energy efficiency high on the global agenda, in addition to encouraging
   collaboration across different levels of private and public sectors to drive faster action.

The companies behind the letter

The Smart Energy Coalition describes itself as “championing corporate leadership on energy efficiency and driving progress on three high-impact areas – AI and data centre innovation; smarter cooling and heating; and energy efficiency’s role in energy security”.

Several of the 100+ companies in the coalition work in or are adjacent to the HVAC&R and building services sector, including:

• Danfoss
• Johnson Controls
• Schneider Electric
• Trane
• Arup
• Atelier Ten
• Cundall
• Grosvenor

You can see the full list of Smart Energy Coalition members here.

Image courtesy of Rawintanpin via Freepik

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