Showing papers by "Lynn Price published in 1997"

Energy use and carbon emissions from freight in 10 industrialized countries: an analysis of trends from 1973 to 1992

Abstract: This paper reviews trends in freight activity and energy use in 10 industrialized countries from 1973 to 1992. We review changes in modes used to carry freight and analyze changes in the role of trucks. We carry out a decomposition of changes in freight energy use to identify the relative contribution of activity, modal structure, and energy intensity to the rise in energy use observed in each country. A similar analysis is carried out for carbon emissions, one of the many environmental problems associated with freight. Our three major findings are: (1) domestic freight volumes rose, with trucks carrying most of the increment, in almost every country we studied, (2) freight energy use and associated carbon emissions increased markedly and are rising vis-a-vis those associated with passenger travel in the 10 industrialized countries studied, and (3) energy use for freight will continue to rise unless there are substantial reductions in the energy intensities of truck freight. We conclude that restraining or reducing emissions from freight will be particularly difficult because the factors that increased energy use and emissions for freight in the past are still important to raising energy use for freight. Noting that emissions from most other sectors have either fallen or grown less than freight, we discuss technologies and policies that might lead to restraint in this sector in the future.

Potentials and policy implications of energy and material efficiency improvement

Abstract: There is a growing awareness of the serious problems associated with the provision of sufficient energy to meet human needs and to fuel economic growth world-wide. This has pointed to the need for energy and material efficiency, which would reduce air, water and thermal pollution, as well as waste production. Increasing energy and material efficiency also have the benefits of increased employment, improved balance of imports and exports, increased security of energy supply, and adopting environmentally advantageous energy supply. A large potential exists for energy savings through energy and material efficiency improvements. Technologies are not now, nor will they be, in the foreseeable future, the limiting factors with regard to continuing energy efficiency improvements. There are serious barriers to energy efficiency improvement, including unwillingness to invest, lack of available and accessible information, economic disencentives and organizational barriers. A wide range of policy instruments, as well as innovative approaches have been tried in some countries in order to achieve the desired energy efficiency approaches. These include: regulation and guidelines; economic instruments and incentives; voluntary agreements and actions, information, education and training; and research, development and demonstration. An area that requires particular attention is that of improved international co-operation to develop policy instruments and technologies to meet the needs of developing countries. Material efficiency has not received the attention that it deserves.Consequently, there is a dearth of data on the qualities and quantities for final consumption, thus, making it difficult to formulate policies. Available data, however, suggest that there is a large potential for improved use of many materials in industrialized countries.

Pollution prevention at a profit in the production of iron and steel

Abstract: Many different processes and flow sheets exist for the production of iron and steel. These individual processes and process combinations consume differing amounts of energy and result in differing carbon dioxide emissions, greatly complicating evaluation of new, energy conserving technologies. Not only does a large array of competing energy saving technologies exist, but these technologies must be applied to this diverse set of production facilities. A methodology now under development for performing a multiple pathways analysis that characterizes both energy usage and carbon emissions is described in this article. This methodology can examine multiple options at each step in the process for the production of iron and steel, and the potential economic and pollution prevention opportunities that each may have. A first order estimate of the role of energy and materials conservation in returning historical investment is also provided, demonstrating past pollution prevention at a profit. Finally, a preliminary analysis of selected strategies for further prevention at a profit in the production of iron and steel is provided.