When applied to energy and sustainability, the 1% rule is a philosophy based on continually improving our daily habits to achieve major long-term transformations. It is based on the guiding principle of ‘Energy Efficiency First’, which was adopted by the European Commission to make progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) established at the 2015 Assembly, along with the 2030 Agenda.
In short, it is based on the idea that small changes in our consumption habits add up to significant savings that can have a huge impact at the macroeconomic level and mitigate the effect on the planet. This means that before investing in new generation infrastructures, we should prioritize solutions that reduce demand in households, businesses, or public buildings.
A simple example: the 1% rule demonstrates that setting our home’s heating thermostat just 1°C lower leads to energy savings of between 7 and 10%, according to Spain’s Ministry for Ecological Transition.
How is the 1% rule implemented with a legal framework?
Spain has implemented this 1% principle through Royal Decree-Law 14/2022, which limits the temperature in public and commercial buildings to between 19 and 27°C to promote immediate reductions in energy consumption that, all together, ultimately lead to significant savings and improved efficiency with minimal effort. The implementation of these measures within a legal framework at the state level made it possible to meet the European annual accumulated savings target set for 2025.
The European Commission states that each 1% improvement in energy efficiency in the EU could help reduce gas imports from third countries by more than double this figure, minimizing the impact of extracting and transporting those resources.
From a quantitative point of view, this rule is very positive in terms of the domestic economy, where every gesture counts and has a direct impact on the mitigation of climate change.
How to integrate 1% rule into our daily life
It is easy. Using household appliances in the eco program with full loads and avoiding standby mode — disconnecting devices such as the television, video game console, music system, or electric toothbrush, or using power strips to completely turn off their power supply and avoid 'phantom consumption' when not in use — are just some of the habits we can adopt to integrate the 1% rule into our daily life.
Some other options include keeping the time that refrigerators or freezers are open to a minimum, opting for LED lighting and presence sensors whenever possible, cleaning lamps to maximize light output, and improving the insulation of spaces for greater thermal comfort.
Ultimately, the 1% rule is outlined in the 'People with their own energy' campaign from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), by promoting everyday actions to transform the country's energy system.
For decades, companies and institutions have dedicated time and resources to creating new technologies that increase recycling capacity. But what if, in order to find some of the best formulas, we not only needed to look to the future, but also to the past?
A good example of this is composting, a simple and age-old practice that helps regenerate soil, take care of ecosystems, and close the cycle of nature. Every day, tons of organic waste are transformed into a natural fertilizer rich in nutrients that serves as food for plants through a process that involves allowing the organic waste to decompose in a controlled manner through the action of oxygen and microorganisms.
Compost adds matter, improves soil structure, and retains water better. This not only represents increased fertility, but also impacts other aspects that contribute to sustainability. Firstly, it reduces the need to use chemical fertilizers. Secondly, it favors biodiversity by contributing to the emergence of fungi, bacteria, worms, and other insects. And thirdly, it reduces the amount of waste sent to the landfill. Furthermore, it is a technique that facilitates reforestation and helps to regenerate important ecosystems like wetlands.
It is important to note that 39% of the European Union’s surface area is covered by forests. In general, these forests are in very good health: almost half of them show improvements in parameters such as biomass volume, productivity, presence of dead wood, etc. And since the year 2000, the EU's forest area has increased by approximately eight million hectares.
This dynamic is repeated when it comes to wetlands: in Spain alone 17,900 hectares have been recovered in the last 20 years, which represents about 15% of the country’s wetland area.
From traditional practice to modern solution
This technique is no longer something that concerns only a handful of gardening enthusiasts, but has become a new culture of resourcefulness. The population actively participates to promote the circular economy, from homes with smart composters, to municipalities with separate collection systems, as well as schools that demonstrate that taking care of the planet is everyone's responsibility.
In Spain, an increasing number of municipalities are developing initiatives to promote the use of this technique. For example, the CREA Consortium has deployed community composting islands in Elda, Sax, and Monóvar; the region of Los Monegros has installed up to 250 brown containers in 26 villages; and the Alicante Provincial Council has created composting centers in about twenty municipalities.
From the ground up: school composting
Citizen involvement also involves teaching small kids so that they understand the importance of taking care of the planet. For example, Móstoles launched a school composting project to show the environmental, social and economic benefits of this system. Today, more than thirty schools in the municipality have their own compost.
Composting reminds us that sometimes the most effective solutions do not lie in advanced technology, but in the accumulated knowledge and respect for the Earth’s natural cycles. This technique has transitioned from being a traditional agricultural practice to being a tool for building more sustainable communities through the commitment of institutions and citizens.
Biomethane, the advanced version of organic recycling
In addition to these advances, it is important to place composting in the broader context of decarbonization solutions, notably biomethane. Although the two techniques are complementary, biomethane acts as an even more sustainable evolution.
While the former releases greenhouse gases (methane and CO₂, among others) when decomposing in open air, the latter works through a process in closed digesters that capture gases. Both processes produce fertilizers, but biomethane can reduce emissions by up to 100% compared to natural gas.
The results of recycling organic matter are visible, and the data is reason enough to commit to the recovery of biowaste as a form of responsible resource management. Every home, school, and neighborhood that commits to reusing waste is taking a step forward in the process of building a more conscious and sustainable society.