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Conservation, Efficiency and Renewable Energy
David LaHart
In 1978, the country established a goal of supplying 20% of our energy with renewables by the end of this century. It can be done. But it must be a conscious choice. The needed changes depend upon policies that account for such externalities as environmental protection and national security. We must also correct market imperfections and biases toward
non-renewables.
The first step along the path to a sustainable energy future is conservation, which means doing the same job with less energy. For example, we can often turn down water heater thermostats and still have plenty of hot water.
The second step is to increase "energy efficiency"to obtain more output with the same energy input. Several recent analyses suggest that future U.S. consumption of fuels can be maintained at or below current levels, even though GNP and population continue to increase. This conclusion rests on a number of diverse opportunities for increasing efficiency in buildings, transportation, and industrial processes.
WHY REDUCE DEMAND?
There are certainly direct economic justifications for a large-scale reduction in fuel use through efficiency improvements. It is also supported by common sense. When seen in the context of continued growth in GNP, population, and energy demand per capita, it is obvious that making better use of available energy must be an integral part of our policy.
The opportunity to avoid future price increases argues for vigorous efficiency improvements, too. Present fossil fuel prices do not reflect the true costs associated with energy production because of past (and current) governmental subsidies. Many studies identify the need for prices to reflect the replacement cost of new supplies. But new supplies are more expensive than the energy that runs today's economy. And the costs of obtaining more are increasing, both in terms of dollars and energy inputs. Reducing demand is a viable alternative to launching costly searches for new supplies.
A critical argument for efficiency improvements is our goal of 20% renewables. The ease of achieving this goal is directly related to consumption levels. The amount and kind of demand will determine whether we "make it." For example, if end uses demand more high quality but inefficient electricity, markets for renewable applications, like solar thermal, will be smaller. Renewable energy sources can only make significant contributions to a society that uses conventional energy sources efficiently and has a moderate demand.
HOW IT CAN BE DONE
Space Heating and Cooling
Fuel needed for building space heating and cooling can be reduced to very low levels. Savings of 30 to 80% can be obtained through: thermal and electrical control systems; structural modification including low-energy and passive solar design; and increased appliance efficiency.
Public policy can achieve this reduction through: revised building codes; standards for existing buildings; efficiency standards for major appliances and heating/cooling equipment; tax credits, loans, and other financial mechanisms; and by greatly increased education, training, and information programs.
Industrial Processes
Industrial processes vary among sectors and it is difficult to generalize to all "industry." Specific areas that increase energy efficiency include: waste heat recovery, load-matched electric motors, increased materials recycling, and cogeneration of heat and electricity. Cogeneration is a technology of high potential for future industrial energy displacement. In the long-term, capital equipment must be replaced to obtain the full potential of efficiency improvement.
In the industrial sector, policies must stress the importance of increased fuel prices, coupled with accounting measures that reflect the true costs of competing energy sources. Existing regulations that impede the use of cogeneration must be changed. Tax credits and low interest loan programs can also be incentives to increase energy efficiency.
Transportation
Advances in fuel efficiency may be introduced more quickly in transportation than in buildings or industry, due to the comparatively rapid turnover of motor vehicles.
Policies to accelerate the introduction of fuelefficient vehicles include: increasing fuel taxes and increasing post-1985 fuel-efficiency standards well in excess of current mandates.
The Results
If these efficiency improvements are widely and rapidly adopted, their combined, cumulative effect could result in negative growth in our energy usepossibly decreasing demand from the current 76 quads to about 60 quads by the year 2000. Table 1 summarizes the potential reductions in energy use by sector.
Conserving and increasing efficiency are two important steps along the path to a sustainable energy future. Substituting renewable energy is the third and most critical step in the solar transition. Table 2 shows the potential contribution of each type of renewable energy.
The benefits of obtaining the energy goals shown in Table 1 and 2 are enormous. Increased use of fossil fuels would inevitably raise prices, contribute to inflation, and have a negative economic effect.
On the other hand, increasing the contribution of renewables would increase employment and reduce inflation. The "conservation, efficiency, and
renewables" strategy is a viable way to stimulate economic growth.
Furthermore, the widespread use of renewable resources and conservation can virtually eliminate oil imports. This would restructure our international posture. A combination of renewable energy and a massive program of conservation can provide more national security than any of the current schemes for military "superiority." Finally, if the United States can reduce its energy demand to 62-65 quads and supply 13-26 quads with renewables (as Tables 1 and 2 indicate), we can easily reach the national goal of 20% renewables by 2000.
It's Our Choice
Lewis Carroll could have commented on our energy problem in Alice in Wonderland: "Cheshire-Cat, " Alice began, "would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the Cat. The United States, like Alice, is wondering which path to choose. Today's energy picture gives us a unique opportunity to rebuild our society based on efficiency and sustainability. Modern technologies can increase the productivity of dwindling fossil fuels, while conservation and innovative use of renewable energy provide an independent path to a sustainable future.
Footnotes
This document is FSEC Publication EN-19, provided for the Energy Resource CD-ROM by the Florida Energy Extension Service, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Publication date: May 1994. First published: 1984. This paper was originally published in Sunspeck, Vol. 5, No. 3, August 1983. Views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and not necessarily those of the Florida Solar Energy Center. Reference for tables: A New Prosperity: Building a Sustainable Energy Future. Solar Energy Research Institute, Brick House Publishing: Andover, MA. 1981.
2. David LaHart, Contributing Editor, Florida Solar Energy Center, State University System, 300 State Road 401, Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920. Telephone: (407) 783-0300. © Copyright 1984, Florida Solar Energy Center.
The Florida Energy Extension Service receives funding from the Energy Office, Department of Community Affairs, and is operated by the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences through the Cooperative Extension Service. The information contained herein is the product of the Florida Energy Extension Service and does not necessarily reflect the view of the Florida Energy office.
Florida Cooperative Extension Service / Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences /
University of Florida / Christine Taylor Waddill, Dean
Disclaimer
The use of trade names in this publication is solely for the purpose of providing specific
information. UF/IFAS does not guarantee or warranty the products named, and references to
them in this publication does not signify our approval to the exclusion of other products of
suitable composition.
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