Backsolving the residential puzzle
Existing housing stock offers big efficiency wins but also presents the hardest challenges
Discussion around energy efficiency tends to centre on large-scale production of energy for end-users. The demand side is often overlooked in the energy transition discussion, with energy efficiency gains from buildings particularly ignored. Within the sector, residential dwellings have big potential gains, but present challenges that have proved difficult to address. “There is no way around it—energy efficiency is boring. You are talking about things you cannot see,” says a veteran energy efficiency expert. But that does not make it unimportant or economically meaningless. “The last bit of energy you are not using is the most expensive energy you would been using at that time”, he adds. Acc
Also in this section
10 March 2026
From Venezuela to Hormuz, the US—backed by the most powerful military force ever assembled—is redrawing not only oil and gas flows but also the global balance of energy power
10 March 2026
By shutting the Strait of Hormuz, Iran has cut exports of distillate-rich Middle Eastern crude, jet fuel and diesel, and is holding the energy market hostage
10 March 2026
Eni’s director for global gas and LNG portfolio, Cristian Signoretto, discusses how demand will respond to rising LNG supply, and how the company is expanding its own gas and LNG operations through disciplined, capital-efficient investments
9 March 2026
Petroleum Economist analysis sees increases in output from Saudi Arabia, Venezuela and Kazakhstan among others before region’s murky descent
