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Energy Efficiency
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Energy efficiency is a measure of how much value we get from energy that we consume; any increase in efficiency means a decrease in use and consequently savings in cost, pollution, carbon emissions, and foreign dependence. Estimates of past and potential future energy and cost savings resulting from increases in energy efficiency vary widely, but all suggest that it is one of our most substantial "new energy" resources.
RESOURCE
One U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study calculated that energy efficiency and conservation activities from 1973 to 1986 reduced growth of U.S. energy use by 30%, saving $225 billion annually.
DOE projects that energy efficiency measures will reduce energy use in 2010 by 13%, but another DOE study estimated that use of existing cost-effective technology for end-use energy efficiency could reduce energy use by an additional 13%.
Reductions in electricity use through efficiency measures save more than three times as much primary energy because of the losses in conversion to electricity. Primary energy is energy in its naturally occurring form (e.g., coal or oil) before conversion to end-use forms.
An Alliance to Save Energy study concluded that the United States could reduce primary energy demand by at least 20% using only investment opportunities with a payback of 5 years or less.
An American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy study concluded that vigorous adoption of cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy measures could reduce national energy use in 2030 by 50% compared to 1988--saving $2.3 trillion and reducing carbon emissions by 70%.
ADVANTAGES
Reducing energy demand by efficient use is often the cleanest, least expensive, and most effective way to improve the adequacy of energy supply. Energy efficiency reduces air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions and alleviates energy dependence and balance-of-payments problems.
CURRENT USE
The United States consumes 33 times as much energy per person as India, 13 times as much as China, two and a half times as much as Japan, and two times as much as Sweden. Only Canada and two small, oil-rich countries use as much energy per capita.
PROJECTED USE
DOE projects a 25% increase in energy consumption by 2010, mostly from the industrial and transportation sectors; commercial and residential energy growth are expected to be relatively flat.
OPPORTUNITIES
The economies of developing countries will be expanding rapidly in the future, and world energy use could expand dramatically. By developing energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies now, the United States can lead by example, reducing growth of energy use and carbon emissions while creating major markets for the technologies.
CHALLENGES
Energy use is closely tied to economic activity. But it does not have to be that way--energy efficiency can hold down growth of energy use and contribute to economic health. From 1977 to 1987, energy use in the United States actually decreased slightly while the gross national product increased 27% in real dollars.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES
General Motors and Ford have built prototype five-passenger cars that get 90 miles per gallon (mpg); a forthcoming Mercedes will get 75 mpg of diesel while meeting California low-emission vehicle standards; an Audi that is currently available gets more than 60 mpg of gasoline.
3M Corporation has reduced energy use per unit of production by more than 50% during the last 17 years.
A Center for Applied Research study found that fully adopting cost-effective efficiency improvements for commercial lighting, industrial motors, and household appliances would reduce energy consumption by 38%.
REFERENCES
Energy Conservation: Technical Efficiency and Program Effectiveness, Congressional Research Service, 1993.
Alliance to Save Energy, May 13, 1993, Testimony before House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Energy, 1993.
Energy Efficiency and Job Creation: The Employment and Income Benefits from Investing in Energy Conserving Technologies, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, October 1992.
Annual Energy Outlook 1994, with Projections to 2010, Energy Information Agency, DOE, 1994.
Automotive News, February 7, 1993.
Expanding Energy Savings by Accelerating Market Diffusion of Efficient Technologies: Three Case Studies, The Center for Applied Research, 1992.
Oil Recovery Program Profile: FY 1993, Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.
Footnotes
This document is Contract DE-AC36-83CH10093, a series of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy.
2. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is managed and operated by Midwest Research Institute for the United States Department of Energy.
NREL-authored documents are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC36-83CH10093.
Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or Midwest Research Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed in the available or referenced documents do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or Midwest Research Institute.
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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