This seems like the right answer, because in theory couldn't you get more efficient while consuming the same amount? But in practice, it's never the case. Havi

This seems like the right answer, because in theory couldn't you get more efficient while consuming the same amount? But in practice, it's never the case. Having energy available to consume always increases your quality of life, because it opens doors to make things better. Energy gives you freedom. Freedom not only to simply consume more things that are good (e.g., turning the AC on for longer to be comfortable for longer), but also freedom to improve the baseline (e.g. being able to focus and invent a more efficient heat pump, because you're at a comfortable temperature). To bring this freedom into existence you must have more energy. You cannot make something from nothing.