Issues of Energy Saving and Energy Efficiency Policy: Foreign and Russian Experience

The development of measures and patterns to increase energy efficiency appears as one of the key objectives of the world economy and is aimed at solving environmental problems associated with energy consumption and climate change. The chapter focuses on the issue of the impact of economic growth and structural changes on the energy intensity of territories. Empirical studies highlight a significant influence of macroeconomic, demographic, and political factors on changes in the energy intensity of economies. Russia has significant capacity for improving energy efficiency, primarily in the electricity and housing sectors. The released volumes of fossil fuels can be exported, reduce emissions into the atmosphere, and, as a result, improve the quality of life. A consistent reduction in the consumption of fuel and energy resources due to the transition to a new technological order is demonstrated by the electric power industry, the manufacturing industry, and the transport sector. For Russia, the transition from a raw-material model of the economy to an innovative one is a priority for sustainable development. To overcome the causes of low energy efficiency and realize the existing potential, it is necessary to intensify the state policy at the regional and federal levels. Simultaneously, measures to save energy and increase energy efficiency will not be able to achieve the goal of reducing the energy intensity of GDP/GRP without high economic growth rates. The authors present the analysis of the influence of the structure of the gross regional product on energy consumption in the Rostov Region and characterize the structure of the economy and the electricity consumption of the region. It was noted that the development of the service sector and high-tech industries, as well as investment in environmental technologies, will allow the Rostov Region to move to an energy-efficient model of economic growth.