In November 2014, G20 Leaders launched the ‘Energy Efficiency Action Plan’ comprising six areas for collaboration, including networked devices.

Although network connectivity increases opportunities for energy management, such as controlling the temperature setting of ones air conditioner by smart phone, it also adds to energy consumption as appliances use ‘network standby’ power just to remain connected to the network.  As shown in the joint IEA/4E publication, “More Data, Less Energy”, the current annual standby power consumption of networked devices is over 600 billion kilowatt-hours, which is greater than Canada’s 2011 annual electricity consumption.  With up to 50 billion devices forecasted to be connected to networks by 2020, global standby power consumption is projected to nearly double by 2025.

In response, the G20 Task Group has brought together 350 governments and private sector organisations as part of the Connected Devices Alliance (CDA). Led by the United Kingdom, the IEA, Canada and The Netherlands, the CDA provides a unique forum for dialogue between industry and government representatives on an issue that is rapidly gaining global significance.

The G20 Energy Efficiency Action Plan held a Networked Devices Workshop in May 2016. The presentations given at the workshop can be accessed here.