Fuel and Technology Alternatives for Buses: Overall Energy Efficiency and Emission Performance

In 2009–2011, a comprehensive project on urban buses was carried out in coop- eration with IEA’s Implementing Agreements on Alternative Motor Fuels and Bio- energy, with input from additional IEA Implementing Agreements. The objective of the project was to generate unbiased and solid data for use by policy- and deci- sion-makers responsible for public transport using buses. The project comprised four major parts: (1) a well-to-tank (WTT) assessment of alternative fuel pathways, (2) an assessment of bus end-use (tank-to-wheel, TTW) performance, (3) combin- ing WTT and TTW data into well-to-wheel (WTW) data and (4) a cost assessment, including indirect as …

On a Rising Tide: The Future of U.S. Utility Customer-Funded Energy Efficiency Programs

We develop estimates of future spending and savings for energy efficiency programs funded by electric and gas utility customers for three scenarios that capture a range of state policy and program spending paths through 2025. Our analysis relies on a detailed bottom-up modeling approach of state energy efficiency policies, regulatory decisions, and utility resource and demand-side management plans. Spending on efficiency programs is projected to more than double from 2010 levels to $10.8 billion in 2025 in the medium scenario, which is premised largely on compliance with existing energy efficiency policies, and would more than triple to $16.8 billion in …

States Can Lead the Way to Improved Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards

Improving appliance energy efficiency standards will benefit consumers, manufacturers, and the environment. Consumers will save money on their electric bills and likely enjoy updated appliances at a lower cost as a result of improved standards. Manufacturers stand to gain from increased sales and lowered production costs. The environment will benefit from reduced natural resource consumption and lowered greenhouse gas emissions. Unfortunately, these benefits are not currently realized due to numerous delays at both the political and federal agency levels. These delays will result in at least $28 billion in unrealized energy savings by 2030.

Traditionally a strongly bipartisan issue, support …

Energy Efficiency and Climate Policy: The Rebound Dilemma

Much of today’s energy policy assumes that regulations mandating greater energy efficiency will reduce energy use. That isn’t always the case and energy efficiency improvements are seldom as large as promised by engineering calculations because of “rebounds.” For example, people who install lighting that is 50 percent more efficient frequently leave the lights on longer, negating some of the energy savings from greater efficiency. This is called an energy efficiency rebound. Sometimes these mechanisms even bring about net increases in energy use known as “backfires.”

Rebounds have a direct implication for energy efficiency mandates and incentives. If rebounds are substantial, …

Best Practices in Energy Efficiency Program Screening

The paper provides a comprehensive review of a wide range of problems and inconsistencies in current cost-effectiveness test practices, and recommends a range of best practices to address them. These best practices (a) align test implementation with the underlying objectives of the tests as originally designed;(b) ensure that energy resources are developed at the lowest cost; and (c) support public policy goals such as promoting customer equity, serving a broad range of customers, encouraging comprehensive whole-house improvements, and avoiding lost opportunities.…

Addressing Market Barriers to Energy Efficiency in Buildings

A large share of total U.S. energy consumption—40 percent—occurs in homes and buildings. Homes and buildings are less energy efficient than they would be if people could assess the value of energy savings more easily and correctly, and if energy prices provided them with stronger incentives to do so. This paper identifies three reasons why people undervalue energy savings: misperceived energy prices, imperfect information about energy efficiency, and biased reasoning about energy savings. The paper then examines four types of policy options for addressing those underlying market imperfections: prices that reflect the social costs of energy use, financial incentives, energy-efficiency …

Spreading the Net: The multiple benefits of energy efficiency improvements

ecoENERGY Efficiency for Buildings

The Cost of Clean Energy Standards When Energy Efficiency is Excluded

Is There an Energy Efficiency Gap?

Many analysts have argued that energy efficiency investments offer an enormous “win-win” opportunity to both reduce negative externalities and save money. This overview paper presents a simple model of investment in energy-using capital stock with two types of market failures: first, uninternalized externalities from energy consumption, and second, forces such as imperfect information that cause consumers and firms not to exploit privately-profitable energy efficiency investments. The model clarifies that only if the second type of market failure cannot be addressed directly through mechanisms such as information provision, energy efficiency subsidies and standards may be merited. We therefore review the empirical …