(d) International Targets/Recommended Standards: There is no specific target for
energy intensity.
(e) Linkages to Other Indicators: The ratio of energy use to GDP is an aggregate
energy intensity indicator and thus is linked to indicators of the energy intensities of
the manufacturing, transport, service/commercial and residential sectors. This
indicator is also linked to indicators for total energy use, greenhouse gas emissions
and air pollution emissions.
METHODOLOGICAL DESCRIPTION (a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The ratio of energy use to GDP is also
called ‘aggregate energy intensity’ or ‘economy-wide energy intensity’. The ratio of
energy use to GDP indicates the total energy being used to support economic and
social activity. It represents an aggregate of energy use resulting from a wide range of
production and consumption activities. In specific economic sectors and sub-sectors,
the ratio of energy use to output or activity is the ‘energy intensity’ (if the output is
measured in economic units) or the ‘specific energy requirement’ (if the output is
measured in physical units such as tonnes or passenger-kilometres [km]).
Due to the limitations described below, disaggregated energy intensities by sector
(industrial, transport, residential, service/commercial, agricultural, construction, etc.)
or sub-sector should be developed in addition to the energy per GDP intensity. For
each sector or sub-sector, energy use can be related to a convenient measure of output
to provide sectoral or sub-sectoral energy intensity. Examples include energy use for
steel making relative to tonnes of steel produced; energy use by passenger vehicles
relative to passenger-km or vehicle-km; and energy use in buildings relative to their
floor area. (See separate methodology sheets for intensities of the industrial, transport,
service/commercial, agriculture and household sectors.)
