Efficiency controls for heating-cooling could slash electricity use by 60pc

A new study has shown that nearly 60 percent of electricity could cut heating and cooling electricity use by installing advanced energy-efficiency controls in buildings.

According to a year-long trial of the controls at malls, grocery stores and other buildings, heating and cooling are among the biggest energy consumers in buildings, largely because most buildings don't use sophisticated controls, but tests of controls installed at real, working commercial buildings clearly demonstrate higher energy savings.

The study has shown that energy efficient air-conditioning systems can reduce electricity use by 57 percent.