Good Practices for the Energy Transition

In energy systems, life-cycle cost can be substantially larger than the initial purchase cost. When selecting an energy-efficient solution, the lifetime energy bill can be substantially reduced. Efficient systems run also cooler hence safer and with lower maintenance cost. These non-energy benefits are difficult to quantify but can outweigh energy cost savings and cut payback time in half.

Compared to other metals, copper has the best (volume) conductivity (with the exception of silver). Therefore, for a given space, it will conduct electricity most efficiently, saving energy in the process. Or for the same efficiency, copper will save space, hence saving on other materials such as insulation, silicon steels, etc. The former effect will be about 40% savings, the latter typically about 20%.