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Energy Efficiency: What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years?

Journal Article · · Annual Review of Environment and Resources
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [10];  [9];  [11];  [12];  [13];  [9];  [14];  [15];  [16];  [17]
  1. Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA (United States)
  2. Asian Institute of Technology, Pathumthani (Thailand); Jadavpur University, Kolkata (India)
  3. Stanford Univ., CA (United States)
  4. St. Xavier's University, Kolkata (India)
  5. Indian Institute of Technology Mandi, Himachal Pradesh (India)
  6. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
  7. University of Surrey (United Kingdom)
  8. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (United Kingdom)
  9. University College London (United Kingdom)
  10. Xiamen University (China)
  11. RWTH Aachen University (Germany); Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim (Norway)
  12. Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, London (United Kingdom); The Economic and Social Research Institute, Dublin (Ireland)
  13. Lund University (Sweden)
  14. University of Sussex, Brighton (United Kingdom)
  15. Australian National University, Canberra ACT (Australia)
  16. Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo (Japan)
  17. Center for International Climate Research (CICERO), Oslo (Norway)
This article presents a critical assessment of 40 years of research that may be brought under the umbrella of energy efficiency, spanning different aggregations and domains—from individual producing and consuming agents to economy-wide effects to the role of innovation to the influence of policy. After 40 years of research, energy efficiency initiatives are generally perceived as highly effective. Innovation has contributed to lowering energy technology costs and increasing energy productivity. Energy efficiency programs in many cases have reduced energy use per unit of economic output and have been associated with net improvements in welfare, emission reductions, or both. Rebound effects at the macro level still warrant careful policy attention, as they may be nontrivial. Complexity of energy efficiency dynamics calls for further methodological and empirical advances, multidisciplinary approaches, and granular data at the service level for research in this field to be of greatest societal benefit.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231
OSTI ID:
1973645
Journal Information:
Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Name: Annual Review of Environment and Resources Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 46; ISSN 1543-5938
Publisher:
Annual ReviewsCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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