Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Environment & Energy
In reply to the discussion: Jevons: a 19th Century Zeno [View all]OKIsItJustMe
(19,938 posts)58. Anything written in this century?
http://co2scorecard.org/home/researchitem/21
[font face=Serif][font size=5]Energy Efficiency is for Real, Energy Rebound a Distraction[/font]
Written by: Shakeb Afsah and Kendyl Salcito and Chris Wielga* Jan 11, 2012
[font size=3]
Controlling for factors like electricity and gas prices, per capita income, variations in weather patterns, population density and economic structure, we used a multiple regression model (described in Appendix-1) to statistically verify if the quality of energy efficiency policies as measured by the ACEEE is associated with lower energy use per capita.
Using ACEEEs 2009 data, we found that a 1% improvement in ACEEEs energy efficiency score leads to an estimated 0.18% decrease in energy use per capita at the state-level in the US. This is visualized in Exhibit-6 as a downward sloping line depicting the long run average correlation between energy efficiency policy score and energy use per capita. As discussed in Appendix 1, a similar relationship between ACEEEs energy efficiency score and energy per capita exists for the years 2007 and 2008. This finding confirms that the causal relationship between energy efficient policies and energy use per capita is not a one-year phenomenon but is consistent and statistically significant over time.
These new findings verify what the US Energy Information Administration has been putting forth for over a decade: energy efficiency policies are central to cutting emissions. Just last year the EIA published estimates on building efficiency improvements using best available technologies, but the agency noted that even with the best technology, policies would still need to be in place to promote efficiency. Data further confirm these findingsas shown in the Exhibit-7, California, which is among the most energy efficient states and has pursued efficiency policies since 1974, was able to put a lid on the average per capita electricity consumption for over three decadesin comparison electricity use per capita increased at an annual rate of 1.4% for the rest of the US. If Rebound effects were as rampant as claimed by the Breakthrough Institute, we would not find a robust relationship between energy efficiency policies and lower electricity use per capita trend.
[/font][/font]
Written by: Shakeb Afsah and Kendyl Salcito and Chris Wielga* Jan 11, 2012
[font size=3]
Controlling for factors like electricity and gas prices, per capita income, variations in weather patterns, population density and economic structure, we used a multiple regression model (described in Appendix-1) to statistically verify if the quality of energy efficiency policies as measured by the ACEEE is associated with lower energy use per capita.
Using ACEEEs 2009 data, we found that a 1% improvement in ACEEEs energy efficiency score leads to an estimated 0.18% decrease in energy use per capita at the state-level in the US. This is visualized in Exhibit-6 as a downward sloping line depicting the long run average correlation between energy efficiency policy score and energy use per capita. As discussed in Appendix 1, a similar relationship between ACEEEs energy efficiency score and energy per capita exists for the years 2007 and 2008. This finding confirms that the causal relationship between energy efficient policies and energy use per capita is not a one-year phenomenon but is consistent and statistically significant over time.
These new findings verify what the US Energy Information Administration has been putting forth for over a decade: energy efficiency policies are central to cutting emissions. Just last year the EIA published estimates on building efficiency improvements using best available technologies, but the agency noted that even with the best technology, policies would still need to be in place to promote efficiency. Data further confirm these findingsas shown in the Exhibit-7, California, which is among the most energy efficient states and has pursued efficiency policies since 1974, was able to put a lid on the average per capita electricity consumption for over three decadesin comparison electricity use per capita increased at an annual rate of 1.4% for the rest of the US. If Rebound effects were as rampant as claimed by the Breakthrough Institute, we would not find a robust relationship between energy efficiency policies and lower electricity use per capita trend.
[/font][/font]
Edit history
Please sign in to view edit histories.
97 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
RecommendedHighlight replies with 5 or more recommendations
Jevons was making an observation about human psychology, not math or physics
phantom power
Jan 2013
#1
I don't think there's any implied statement about price of resources going down...
phantom power
Jan 2013
#12
Money made available as a result of efficiency doesn't need to be created by fiat.
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#26
The $100 worth of energy I “saved” would have come from resource extraction
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#43
I will agree that improving efficiency does not correlate well with a society using less energy
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#67
Yes - fewer energy sources, fewer manufactured goods, greater transportation costs,
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#69
“A better example would be people simply switching to a lower wattage traditional bulb…”
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#25
Those studies were done in the early 80s regarding efficiency standards implemented in late 70s
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#51
"Economic Implications of Mandated Efficiency Standards for Household Appliances."
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#55
Can you document this? (i.e. that more efficient cars lead to more consumption.)
OKIsItJustMe
Jan 2013
#41
The specific Jevons-style rebound is probably less significant than general growth
GliderGuider
Jan 2013
#30
In any case, it isn't a strict "rule" but an explanation of observed market behavior
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#31
Fine, but what's relevant to you is not close to being relevant to society as a whole
wtmusic
Jan 2013
#94
Presuming that society on a whole will not lower the carbon-intensity of their energy
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#96
In general, we are going about pretending we don't even have to think about these matters
NoOneMan
Jan 2013
#90
With transglobal corporate monsters ruling all, Zeno's paradox certainly applies to you and me...
Peace Patriot
Jan 2013
#76