[Graeme]

7 amazing facts about energy efficiency

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '.') . . . that by the end of 2008 energy efficiency investments had slashed United States energy consumption (as measured per dollar of economic output) to half of what it was in 1970, from 18,000 Btus to about 8,900 Btus; in one year alone such investments are estimated to have generated approximately 1.7 quads of energy savings.


. . . . that Americans are now using public transit at record levels but if they used it at the same rate as Europeans – for roughly 10% of their daily travel needs – the U.S. could reduce its dependence on imported oil by more than 40%, nearly equal to the 550 million barrels of crude oil imported from Saudi Arabia each year.

[kpeavey]

See also: Jeavon's Paradox

[Graeme]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'J')evons Paradox is sometimes used to argue that energy conservation is futile. For example, that more efficient use of oil will lead to increased demand, and will not slow the arrival or the effects of peak oil. This is usually presented as a reason not to increase fuel efficiency (if cars are more efficient, it will simply lead to more driving).

Several points can be raised against this argument. First, in the context of a mature market such as for oil, the rebound effect is usually small, and so increased efficiency usually reduces resource use.[4][6][7] (However, fuel use may still increase because of faster economic growth.) Second, even if increased fuel efficiency does not reduce the total amount of fuel used, this ignores other benefits associated with increased fuel efficiency. For example, increased fuel efficiency may mitigate the price increases, shortages and disruptions in the global economy associated with peak oil. Third, fuel use will decline if increased fuel efficiency is met with government intervention (e.g. a green tax, license fees, etc.) that keeps the cost of use the same.[5] By mitigating the economic effects of government intervention designed to promote ecologically sustainable activities, efficiency-improving technological progress may make the government intervention more palatable, and more likely to be implemented.

[Graeme]

Efficiency can help us reach energy independence

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'R')ecently, a coalition of 35 state treasurers, comptrollers, investors and other asset managers urged Congress to set national goals for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Because every dollar invested in energy efficiency saves consumers roughly $4, a national goal for energy efficiency will save money.

McKinsey and Co., a global energy consulting firm, estimates that energy efficiency can offset more than 80 percent of increased electricity demand in the United States by 2030. This is an important opportunity, and Congress is poised to make sure our nation takes advantage of it.

Congress is considering an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard that will reduce electricity usage 15 percent and natural gas usage 10 percent by 2020. EERS encourages energy efficiency by setting a national standard for energy savings and giving states the flexibility to determine how best to achieve them.

The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy says that an EERS will create 260,000 net jobs and save utility customers more than $140 billion.

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', 'S')ee also: Jeavon's Paradox

[Graeme]

EERE Information Center

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'T')he DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE) Information Center answers questions about EERE's products, services, and technology programs, and refers callers to the most appropriate EERE resources.

You can contact us with your questions or browse the following list of topics.

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[nobodypanic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', 'S')ee also: Jeavon's Paradox

[Narz]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', 'S')ee also: Jeavon's Paradox

[Narz]

Eating meat is a horrid waste of resources, just cutting meat consumption by 50% would free up a HUGE amount of energy.

http://www.alternet.org/story/134650/

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nobodypanic', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', 'S')ee also: Jeavon's Paradox

[Graeme]

This article was taken from the Energy Bulletin site. I think that it is appropriate to re-post here:

'Rebound effects' of energy efficiency could halve carbon savings, says study

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'U')sing energy more efficiently might not be as effective at tackling climate change as people think, according to a new study. A team of economists has shown that so-called "rebound effects", where efficiency improvements are offset by behaviour changes, such as increasing demands for cheaper energy, could potentially slash future carbon and energy savings by half.

The rebound effect was first proposed in the 19th century but, until now, there has been very little research on how significant it might be. In the latest study, Terry Barker, of the Cambridge Centre for Climate Change Mitigation Research, showed that if the International Energy Agency's (IEA) recommendations for efficiency measures are followed in full in the next few decades, the total rebound effect – the proportion of potential energy savings offset by changes in consumer and industry behaviour – could be 31% by 2020 and about 52% around the world by 2030.

[nobodypanic]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nobodypanic', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('yesplease', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('kpeavey', 'S')ee also: Jeavon's Paradox

[yesplease]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('nobodypanic', 'i') asked you about your thoughts on my opinion about the oil market, not the gasoline market vis-a-vis fuel efficiency gains.

[Graeme]

Energy efficiency savings offset cap-and-trade costs

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s the Obama Administration and Congress consider approaches to promote clean energy and reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) in the electricity sector, a coalition of advocacy groups released a report in late April countering industry claims that carbon cap-and-trade legislation will be too costly for consumers. The report suggested energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy standards will make cap-and-trade legislation affordable, create 300,000 jobs by 2025 and save consumers more than $200 billion.

The report supports proposals contained in the Waxman-Markey (Reps. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., and Edward Markey, D-Mass.) draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 before Congress, which combines energy and climate legislation in one bill taking a three-pillar approach. An Energy Efficiency Resources Standard would reduce electricity usage by at least 15 percent and natural gas usage by at least 10 percent by 2020. A renewable electricity standard would increase renewable energy production to at least 20 percent by 2020. And a global warming cap would cut GHG emissions by at least 35 percent below current levels by 2020 and by at least 80 percent by 2050.

[Ludi]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '
')It appears from my post that energy consumption has decreased in US since 1970. Fuel consumption has not changed that much during the last 2 decades, and is the lowest in the world for reasons given below.

[Graeme]

Ludi, I was referring to this chart:



In terms of mpg, that is the case. That is fuel consumption, not total amount of fuel. You are also right that the US does indeed use a disproportionate amount of fuel.

I want to add this important announcement:

President Obama says energy cuts are key to saving the planet

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A') global drive to improve energy efficiency will be the centrepiece of President Obama’s strategy for fighting climate change, the US Energy Secretary has said.

An international initiative to cut the amount of energy used by buildings and vehicles is as important to reducing carbon emissions as clean energy generation, and will be more achievable in the short term, Professor Steven Chu says.

“The quickest and easiest way to reduce our carbon footprint is through energy efficiency,” he writes. “Energy efficiency is not just low-hanging fruit; it is fruit that is lying on the ground.”
He calls for a worldwide investment in green building design to slash the energy needs of homes and businesses. This would also reduce the cost of energy to consumers and create jobs and opportunities to boost economic growth.

[Graeme]

The man who could change the world

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')merica has been slow to respond to climate change, but its new Secretary of Energy, Nobel prizewinner Steven Chu, is determined to make up for lost time. He calls on fellow scientists to step up to the plate.

We are also making a big investment in the efficiency of homes and commercial buildings – both improving the buildings we already have and learning how to design and construct new ones in a much more energy efficient and cost effective way. I believe building design is an area that is ripe for international collaboration. By working together, we can give engineers and architects the tools to design buildings that use 80 per cent less energy than today’s buildings. And because buildings are inherently local, collaboration would not cede the competitiveness of any nation and would actually drive local job creation.

As we take these steps to reduce our energy use, we need to increase dramatically the generation of energy from clean and renewable sources.

[Graeme]

Labor of Lovins

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'W')hat are the easiest ways for Americans to do what you propose: boost energy and financial efficiency?

The best known one is to unscrew an incandescent bulb and put in a compact fluorescent — you get the same light, it uses five times less electricity, and it lasts about ten times longer. And next time you’re going to buy a household appliance, get the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy’s [aceee.org] guide to the most energy-efficient appliances; you can get them two or three times more efficient than normal, and typically they don’t cost more.

[Outcast_Searcher]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Graeme', '
')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '
')Weight matters - on fuel efficiency and vehicle weight

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t turns out that fuel efficiency in the US, measured in miles per gallon, did not improve in the last two decades. Yet in that same period, manufacturers pushed heavier, more powerful cars onto the market. In fact, the consumption of gasoline per vehicle weight improved dramatically. In terms of consumption per vehicle weight, the US fleet is as good as any other region in the world [2]. Instead, the bad overall mileage is related to the high number of heavy tank-like vehicles on the streets.

[KaiserJeep]

That's true, we use vehicles to transport not only ourselves but freight, goods, and groceries. I take both of my Jeeps to the grocery store, the big box store, and the home center, and load them with goods. I also use them for personal transport, just my own carcass. Technically, my big-tired, lifted, modified Jeep is a small SUV, with the emphasis on "utility", and it excells in the most difficult terrain on the planet:

That does not mean that it makes financial sense for me to own a more fuel efficient vehicle, when I am driving less than 1000 miles annually. I have decided to never buy another ICE vehicle, although the wife may get one. I'll eventually own at least one car-type EV for getting around on highways. I am seriously considering an electric bicycle for Nantucket, because the tourist road traffic does in fact constitue a huge obstacle, on an island with no stoplights.

Just perhaps one of these electric tricycles would carry more groceries, depends on whether or not I would be cited for using one on the bike paths: