IEA: Energy efficiency a hidden fuel

BERLIN, Sept. 9 (UPI) -- The director of the International Energy Agency said Tuesday from Berlin energy efficiency is a hidden fuel that could support economic growth.

The IEA published a study saying energy efficiency may have benefits that go beyond just cutting back on demand.

"This report lays out the case for governments to invest more time in measuring the impacts of energy efficiency policies, to improve understanding of their role in boosting economic and social development and to facilitate policy design that maximizes the benefits prioritized by each country," IEA Executive Director Maria van der Hoeven said in a statement.

The IEA said it's trying to reframe the narrative of energy efficiency to show it's a hidden fuel that can be used as a source of energy security and a builder of national wealth.

The paper suggests nearly 60 percent of the economic potential from energy efficiency is unrealized through 2035 because efficiency is typically undervalued in national policies.