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.
Citations
More filters
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the factors that give rise to food waste throughout the food supply chain, and propose a framework to identify and prioritize the most appropriate options for prevention and management of food waste.
1,016 citations
Cites background from "Energy efficiency and consumption —..."
...SCP policies include strategies aiming to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation, meet basic human needs, and avert the rebound effect, a term used to describe the phenomenon where the negative impacts of growing consumption outweigh the benefits of efficiency and technological improvements (Barrett & Scott, 2012; Sorrell & Dimitropoulos, 2008; Greening et al., 2000)....
[...]
TL;DR: The evidence in favour of Jevons Paradox is far from conclusive, but it does suggest that economywide rebound effects are larger than is conventionally assumed and that energy plays a more important role in driving productivity improvements and economic growth than is normally assumed as discussed by the authors.
860 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed an empirical specification for motor vehicles based on a simple aggregate model that simultaneously determines vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), vehicles, and fuel efficiency.
Abstract: It has long been realized that improving energy efficiency releases an economic reaction that partially offsets the original energy saving. As the energy efficiency of some process improves, the process becomes cheaper, thereby providing an incentive to increase its use. Thus total energy consumption changes less than proportionally to changes in physical energy efficiency. For motor vehicles, the process under consideration is use of fuel in producing vehicle-miles traveled (VMT). Our empirical specification is based on a simple aggregate model that simultaneously determines VMT, vehicles, and fuel efficiency. The coefficient on the lagged dependent variable implies considerable inertia in behavior, with people adjusting their travel in a given year by just 21 percent of the ultimate response to a permanent change. The equation exhibits only mild autocorrelation, giving people confidence that their specification accounts for most influences that move sluggishly over time.
838 citations
01 Oct 2012
TL;DR: The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) as mentioned in this paper brings together over 300 international researchers to provide an independent, scientifically based, integrated and policy-relevant analysis of current and emerging energy issues and options.
Abstract: The Global Energy Assessment (GEA) brings together over 300 international researchers to provide an independent, scientifically based, integrated and policy-relevant analysis of current and emerging energy issues and options. It has been peer-reviewed anonymously by an additional 200 international experts. The GEA assesses the major global challenges for sustainable development and their linkages to energy; the technologies and resources available for providing energy services; future energy systems that address the major challenges; and the policies and other measures that are needed to realize transformational change toward sustainable energy futures. The GEA goes beyond existing studies on energy issues by presenting a comprehensive and integrated analysis of energy chalenges, opportunities and strategies, for developing, industrialized and emerging economies. This volume is a invaluable resource for energy specialists and technologists in all sectors (academia, industry and government) as well as policymakers, development economists and practitioners in international organizations and national governments.
812 citations
References
More filters
TL;DR: In this paper, the effects of the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards (CAFE) on the automobile product mix, prices and fuel consumption were examined using micro data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey for 1984-1990.
Abstract: This paper examines the effects of the Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards (CAFE) on the automobile product mix, prices and fuel consumption First a discrete choice model of automobile demand and a continuous model of vehicle use are estimated using micro data from the Consumer Expenditure Survey for 1984-1990. Next, the demand side model is combined with a model of oligopoly and product differentiation on the supply side. After estimating the demand and supply parameters, the effects of the CAFE regulation are assessed through simulations and compared to the effects of alternative policy instruments such as a powerful gas guzzler tax and an increase in the gasoline tax. Our results are as follows: Vehicle use is in the short run unresponsive to fuel cost changes; vehicle purchases, however, respond to both car prices and fuel cost. These results taken together imply that (1) contrary to the CAFE opponents' claims, higher fleet fuel efficiency is not neutralized by increased driving, and (2) policies to reduce fuel consumption by shifting the composition of the car fleet towards more fuel efficient vehicles are more promising than policies that target utilization. Policies with compositional effects operate through two channels: changes in vehicle prices and in operating costs. Contrary to environmental groups' claims, our results do not indicate the existence of consumer myopia. Still, we find the gasoline tax increase necessary to achieve fuel consumption reductions equivalent to the ones currently achieved through CAFE is 780%; whether an increase of this size is politically feasible is questionable. Our results indicate that the CAFE regulation reduced fuel consumption but shifts in the classification of products as domestic vs. imports weakened the effectiveness of the standards.
403 citations
Book•
27 May 1992
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a model for determining the economic costs of limiting carbon dioxide emissions produced by burning fossil fuels and provide a solid analytical base for rethinking public policy on the farreaching issue of global warming.
Abstract: In recent years a growing concern that the increasing accumulation of greenhouse gases will lead to undesirable changes in global climate has resulted in a number of proposals, both in the United States and internationally, to set physical targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. But what will these proposals cost? Based on the authors' earlier ground-breaking work, Buying Greenhouse Insurance outlines a way to think about greenhouse-effect decisions under uncertainty. It describes an insightful model for determining the economic costs of limiting carbon dioxide emissions produced by burning fossil fuels and provides a solid analytical base for rethinking public policy on the farreaching issue of global warming. Manne and Richels present region-by-region estimates of the costs that would underlie an international agreement. Using a computer model known as Global 2100, they analyze the economic impacts of limiting C02 emissions under alternative supply and conservation scenarios. The results clearly indicate that a reduction in emissions is not the sole policy response to potential climate change. Following a summary of the greenhouse effect, its likely causes, and possible consequences, Manne and Richels take up issues that concern the public at large. They provide an overview of Global 2100, look at how the U.S. energy sector is likely to evolve under business-as-usual conditions and under carbon constraints, and describe the concept of "greenhouse insurance." They consider possible global agreements, including an estimate of benefits that might result from trading in an international market in emission rights. They conclude with a technical description directed toward modeling specialists.
378 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore the links between life-styles and energy use and propose a scheme for measuring consumer activities, which leads to a new description of consumers' energy use.
Abstract: In this paper, the authors explore the links between life-styles and energy use. While they focus on the United States, they illustrate some points using examples from other countries, particularly where these countries differ significantly from the United States. They focus on changes in an individual's or household's activities that are not motivated per se by a desire to save energy. They study observed behavior. To understand the relationship between life-styles and energy use, they review the structure of energy use by end-use sector. They propose a scheme for measuring consumer activities, which leads to a new description of consumers' energy use. The authors review demographic and social factors that may constrain activity choices, then return to the activity-based description of energy use to speculate on how changes in consumer activities could cause important changes in sectoral demand in the future.
299 citations
Book•
01 Jan 1992
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an overview of world energy use since 1970: an overview, including historic trends in manufacturing, transportation, residential, and service sectors, as well as future energy intensities.
Abstract: 1. Introduction 2. World energy use since 1970: an overview 3. Historic trends in manufacturing 4. Historic trends in transportation 5. Historic trends in the residential sector 6. Historic trends in the service sector 7. Trends between 1973 and 1988: summary and key issues 8. Outlook for activity and structural change 9. Energy intensities: prospects and potential 10. Scenarios of future energy intensities 11. Restraining energy use: policies and programs 12. Energy and human activity: steps towards a sustainable future.
229 citations
TL;DR: The authors analyzes U.S. light-duty vehicle miles travelled from 1966-89, examining a variety of statistical issues that bear on the size of the "rebound" effect, including error structure, functional form and possible lagged effects.
Abstract: By reducing the fuel costs of travel, motor vehicle efficiency improvements tend to increase the demand for travel, thereby offsetting some of the energy-saving benefit of the efficiency improvement and creating a "rebound" effect. The key factor is the elasticity of vehicle travel with respect to fuel cost per mile. Past studies offer a wide range of estimates depending on model formulation and time period, with more recent analyses indicating that travel is insensitive to fuel costs and efficiency. This paper analyzes U.S. light-duty vehicle miles travelled from 1966-89, examining a variety of statistical issues that bear on the size of the "rebound" effect, including error structure, functional form, and possible lagged effects. The results consistently confirm that the "rebound" effect has been quite small, about 5-15%, or less; and that short-run (one year) adjustments accounted for essentially all of the change in travel due to fuel price and fuel economy changes. The findings imply that the energy savings of technical fuel economy improvements to cars and light trucks will be only slightly reduced by increased vehicle travel. They also imply that gasoline taxes would need to be very large in order to stimulate significant reductions in travel.
228 citations