Energy efficiency and consumption — the rebound effect — a survey
TL;DR: In this paper, a review of some of the relevant literature from the US offers definitions and identifies sources including direct, secondary, and economy-wide sources and concludes that the range of estimates for the size of the rebound effect is very low to moderate.
About: This article is published in Energy Policy.The article was published on 2000-06-01. It has received 1867 citations till now. The article focuses on the topics: Rebound effect (conservation) & Energy consumption.
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TL;DR: In this paper , a case study of a medium manufacturer from the US that implemented energy, water and material efficiency measures was presented, and it was found that the system focused exclusively on efficiency was incapable of conserving resource use and delivering on CE decoupling promise.
Abstract: Manufacturers are often identified as agents of change to conserve resources. The circular economy is the paradigm of the societal operation model that aims to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation through a system of efficiency measures. However, a growing body of literature reported the failure of efficiency measures to conserve energy and resources in the current socio-economic environment. Several complex compensatory mechanisms called the rebound effect were reported to offset efficiency gains and resulted in higher resource use. In this paper, we addressed the lack of data on the microeconomic one-company rebound effect investigation by presenting the case study of a medium manufacturer from the US that implemented energy, water and material efficiency measures. While the company qualified as a top-performing “circularity developer” according to the published self-assessment questionnaire, it retained its linear business model. Energy efficiency and renewable energy measures resulted in a short-term rebound effect of 161% or backfire. In the long term, the rebound effect of 25% was calculated. The drivers and barriers that the company encountered when implementing efficiency measures were identified. In conclusion, it was found that the system focused exclusively on efficiency was incapable of conserving resource use and delivering on CE decoupling promise. Wider societal acceptance of sufficiency measures was suggested to improve resource-saving capacity in manufacturing.
1 citations
01 Jan 2006
TL;DR: In the more than twenty years that I have devoted to researching the relationship between energy, the environment and the economy, first as a graduate student, then combining duties as professor, policy advisor and five years chairing an energy regulatory agency, I have assumed that the shift to a sustainable energy system would entail a transition away from fossil fuels.
Abstract: W e frequently hear that our energy system is not sustainable. This certainly sounds right. Our economies, especially those of industrialized countries, are completely dependent on fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas. These are non-renewable resources that we shall exhaust one day, perhaps soon. Fossil fuels provide energy via combustion and in the process release emissions that are toxic to animals and plants. Some of these emissions may be changing the earth's climate. Indeed, each stage in the exploration, extraction, processing, transportation and consumption of fossil fuels has known impacts and suspected risks for humans and ecosystems. Surely the solution is to wean ourselves quickly off of fossil fuels – for there are ready alternatives. We can use energy much more efficiently. Reduce our energy consumption and we equally reduce emissions, slowing the depletion of fossil fuels at the same time. We can increase our use of nuclear power. It has negligible emissions and is virtually inexhaustible. We can rekindle our pre-industrial dependence on renewable energy, this time with advanced technologies that meet the needs of the information age for high quality, reliable energy. In the more than twenty years that I have devoted to researching the relationship between energy, the environment and the economy – first as a graduate student, then combining duties as professor, policy advisor and five years chairing an energy regulatory agency – I have assumed that the shift to a sustainable energy system would entail a transition away from fossil fuels.
1 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of a PTD's organizational setup on the technology perceptions of potential participants is analyzed. And the authors show that the organizational setup has a significant impact on a product's perceived contribution to the energy transition, its establishment in the market, cost-reduction potential, innovativeness and environmental friendliness.
Abstract: Pilot-, test- and demonstration-projects (PTDs) are a prominent tool to promote the diffusion of green technologies by activating the ‘quadruple helix’, i.e. a collaboration of industry, academia, government and civil society. However, as technology diffusion is heavily dependent on individual attributes and beliefs of potential adopters, it is important to understand the influence of a PTD’s organizational setup on the technology perceptions of potential participants. By varying the information on a PTD’s organizational setup in a survey experiment among a selected sample of potential PTD-participants, we gather first experimental evidence for the effect of different PTD-setups on the perception of green technologies. We show that the organizational setup has a significant impact on a product’s perceived contribution to the energy transition, its establishment in the market, cost-reduction potential, innovativeness and environmental friendliness. In particular, full organizational cooperation between government, university and industry seems to consistently improve perceptions compared to a partial setup. Regarding the willingness to participate in a PTD, we find that communication and support are the most imperative aspects and even more important than financial benefits. Our findings provide policy-makers with a more ample foundation on how PTDs should be designed to successfully transfer technologies to the market.
1 citations
Cites background from "Energy efficiency and consumption —..."
...Since the path of diffusion and the potential impact of many promising technologies depend both on the number as well as the behavioural patterns of the individuals who choose to adopt and use them (Greening et al., 2000; Grimm et al., 2018; Huang et al., 2018; Zeng et al., 2014; Zhao et al., 2016), PTDs are increasingly concerned with an individual household perspective, whereby the broad and active participation of consumers becomes an important prerequisite for successful implementation (BMWi, 2018)....
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Dissertation•
07 Dec 2018TL;DR: This thesis proposes to include cloud users in the energy optimization as a means to reduce datacenters energy consumption by delivering energy related information to raise awareness and by providing means of actions.
Abstract: Cloud datacenters consume large amounts of energy and it becomes necessary to reduce their consumption due to current climate changes. Although energy optimization propositions exist, they do not take into account end-users. This thesis proposes to include cloud users in the energy optimization as a means to reduce datacenters energy consumption. The inclusion is done, first, by delivering energy related information to raise awareness, and second, by providing means of actions. Contributions are located at IaaS and PaaS cloud layers. Our results show that users tolerant to performance variation (e.g. delay in obtaining execution results) allow to reduce datacenters energy consumption.
1 citations
Cites background from "Energy efficiency and consumption —..."
...However, because of the Jevons paradox [5, 6, 7], only increasing energy efficiency can increase usage because of cheaper access to the resources....
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References
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Book•
01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: Deaton and Muellbauer as mentioned in this paper introduced generations of students to the economic theory of consumer behaviour and used it in applied econometrics, including consumer index numbers, household characteristics, demand, and household welfare comparisons.
Abstract: This classic text has introduced generations of students to the economic theory of consumer behaviour. Written by 2015 Nobel Laureate Angus Deaton and John Muellbauer, the book begins with a self-contained presentation of the basic theory and its use in applied econometrics. These early chapters also include elementary extensions of the theory to labour supply, durable goods, the consumption function, and rationing. The rest of the book is divided into three parts. In the first of these the authors discuss restrictions on choice and aggregation problems. The next part consists of chapters on consumer index numbers; household characteristics, demand, and household welfare comparisons; and social welfare and inequality. The last part extends the coverage of consumer behaviour to include the quality of goods and household production theory, labour supply and human capital theory, the consumption function and intertemporal choice, the demand for durable goods, and choice under uncertainty.
3,952 citations
TL;DR: In this article, an industrial demand for energy is essentially a derived demand: the firm's demand for the energy is an input, derived from demand for a firm's output, which is an output.
Abstract: Industrial demand for energy is essentially a derived demand: the firm's demand for energy is an input is derived from demand for the firm's output. Inputs other than energy typically also enter the firm's production process. Since firms tend to choose that bundle of inputs which minimized the total cost of producing a giving level of output, the derived demand for inputs, including energy, depends on the level of output, the submitions possibilies among inputs allow by production technology, and the relative prices of all inputs.
1,422 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a model of individual behavior in the purchase and utilization of energy-using durables is presented, where the tradeoff between capital costs for more energy efficient appliances and operating costs for the appliances is emphasized.
Abstract: This article presents a model of individual behavior in the purchase and utilization of energy-using durables. The tradeoff between capital costs for more energy efficient appliances and operating costs for the appliances is emphasized. Using data on both the purchase and utilization of room air conditioners, the model is applied to a sample of households. The utilization equation indicates a relatively low price elasticity. The purchase equation, based on a discrete choice model, demonstrates that individuals do trade off capital costs and expected operating costs. The results also show that individuals use a discount rate of about 20 percent in making the tradeoff decision and that the discount rate varies inversely with income.
1,361 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors argue that the indiscriminate use of mandated standards will backfire, but a mix of selective standards and reliance on prices as a restraint can be effective.
Abstract: Regulations which mandate appliance efficiency standards may be based on calculations which exaggerate the potential energy savings. Improved efficiency can, in fact, increase demand enough to be counterproductive unless the standards are applied selectively. As appliances improve, they are used more, new stock is demanded, and the demand for and use of related equipment increases. The policy implications of these empirical studies are that the indiscriminate use of mandated standards will backfire, but a mix of selective standards and reliance on prices as a restraint can be effective. 11 references, 5 figures, 2 tables. (DCK)
802 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a detailed study of automobile demand and use, presenting forecasts based on the powerful new techniques of qualitative choice analysis and standard regression techniques, which are combined to analyze situations that neither alone can accurately forecast.
Abstract: This book addresses two significant research areas in an interdependent fashion. It is first of all a comprehensive but concise text that covers the recently developed and widely applicable methods of qualitative choice analysis, illustrating the general theory through simulation models of automobile demand and use. It is also a detailed study of automobile demand and use, presenting forecasts based on these powerful new techniques. The book develops the general principles that underlie qualitative choice models that are now being applied in numerous fields in addition to transportation, such as housing, labor, energy, communications, and criminology. The general form, derivation, and estimation of qualitative choice models are explained, and the major models - logit, probit, and GEV - are discussed in detail. And continuous/discrete models are introduced. In these, qualitative choice methods and standard regression techniques are combined to analyze situations that neither alone can accurately forecast. Summarizing previous research on auto demand, the book shows how qualitative choice methods can be used by applying them to specific auto-related decisions as the aggregate of individuals' choices. The simulation model that is constructed is a significant improvement over older models, and should prove more useful to agencies and organizations requiring accurate forecasting of auto demand and use for planning and policy development. The book concludes with an actual case study based on a model designed for the investigations of the California Energy Commission.
726 citations