IEA gives good marks for energy efficiency

BRUSSELS, April 14 (UPI) -- The international community is encouraged to "keep up the good work" in advancing energy efficiency polices, the International Energy Agency said from Brussels.

The IEA found global leaders have made improvements in energy efficiency polices since last time the agency looked in 2009. While more could be done, IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka said the world is moving in the right direction.

"We urge countries to keep up the good work, and to plan and implement energy efficiency policies in areas not yet addressed," he said.

Tanaka said that apart from improving energy security, better energy policies can help alleviate global climate change. Barriers still exist, however, and more could be done to "meet climate, security and economic development objectives," the director said in a statement.

The IEA said it unveiled a series of 25 energy efficiency policy recommendations that cover areas ranging from transportation to construction.

The agency said if all of its recommendations are implemented across the board, the world could save the equivalent of about 1.5 times the amount of carbon dioxide emissions emitted from the United States each year.