Shape memory alloys (SMA) are thermally activated smart materials. Due to their ability to change into a previously imprinted actual shape through the means of thermal activation, they are suitable as actuators for microsystems and, within certain limitations, macroscopic systems. To apply these smart materials to a wide range of industrial applications, a simple method for controlling the actuator effect is required. A commonly used shape memory actuator type is an alloy of Nickel and Titanium (NiTi), which starts to transform its inner phase from martensitic to austenitic structure at a certain austenite start temperature (AS). Retransformation starts at martensitic start temperature after passing through a hysteresis cycle. Today's control concepts for shape memory actuators, in applications as well as in test stands, are time-based. This often leads to overheating after transformation, thus causing a poor efficiency. Besides, the dynamic behaviour of such systems is impacted by unnecessary heating, resulting in a bad time performance. To minimize these effects, a controller system with resistance feedback is required to hold energy on specific keypoints in the functional actuating curves. These two key points are: short before transformation (AS) and short before retransformation (MS). This allows triggering of fast and energy efficient transformation cycles. The experimental results and a mechatronical demonstrator-system show the advantages of this system concerning efficiency, cycle times and fatigue independency of this method.