Are We Thinking About Energy All Wrong?
May 3rd, 2010 by 
The energy world operates under the premise that more is better. If we build more power plants, we’ll have ample supply, and electricity prices will drop. Even better, if those plants are clean and green, we’ll displace older, dirtier plants and reduce emissions. That will help our economy by producing jobs.
But is that the right way to think about power?
Truth be told, new energy sources are likely to play a smaller role in economic recovery than advances in energy efficiency, according to speakers at a recent symposium held by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, as part of its 30th anniversary celebration.
“Cost-effective investment that can reduce the amount of energy necessary to support a dollar of economic activity is the single most important driver of economic productivity within the United States and around the world,” said John A. “Skip” Laitner, director of economic and social analysis, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
But too often policymakers view energy efficiency not as an economic driver, but as a means to control demand until we can deploy conventional resources, such as nuclear and oil, he said.
Consider the following data that emerged from the symposium:
- America’s economy has tripled in size since 1970 and three-quarters of the energy needed to fuel that growth came from efficiency advances, not by adding more energy.
- Still, the U.S. economy remains only about 13 percent energy efficient, meaning 87 percent of the energy we use is wasted. We are behind Japan and several European countries, which have a 20 percent efficiency level.
- Energy efficiency investments can provide up to one-half of the greenhouses gas emissions reductions most scientists say are needed between now and 2050 – while lowering energy bills.
Elisa Wood is a long-time energy writer whose work appears in many of the industry’s top magazines and newsletters. She is publisher of the Energy Efficiency Markets podcast and newsletter.
photo: bass_nroll
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Tags:  efficiency electricity cost green economy Renewable Energy | [ Permalink ] |
I agree with this whole heartedly and have been trying to get this message across for awhile. If we do not use the energy we have wisely now then as our population grows we will continue to waste it. Programs like http://blog.cleantechies.com/2010/04/14/cash-for-caulkers-energy-efficiency/ are programs that are “starting” to take us in the right direction. Also we need to get power conservation education out to the public as well. Along with more focus in more efficient technologies as stated in this article.
The power of reducing energy use, while simultaneously increasing the efficiency at every point in the delivery cycle, needs to be applied in concert with both traditional and renewable energy sources. It’s obvious that there is room for serious improvement on all fronts, and we must soon come to grips with the fact that all carbon-based energy sources are limited – they will all run out eventually.
[...] Are We Thinking About Energy All Wrong? | CleanTechies Blog – CleanTechies.com " – ew energy sources are likely to play a smaller role in economic recovery than advances in energy efficiency, according to speakers at a recent symposium held by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy [..] – Consider the following data that emerged from the symposium: [...]