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U.S. Department of Energy
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Residential energy use to the year 2000: conservation and economics

Technical Report ·
DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5339772· OSTI ID:5339772

This report evaluates the energy and direct economic effects of implementing various residential energy conservation programs. These evaluations are conducted using a detailed engineering-economic model that simulates residential energy use on an annual basis for 1970 through 2000. These programs include several authorized by the 94th Congress and expanded upon by the present administration: appliance-efficiency standards, thermal standards for construction of new residences and weatherization of existing housing units. In addition to these Federal programs that are being (or will be) implemented in some form, we consider two additional measures to save energy: large fuel-price increases and elimination of all market imperfections associated with production and purchase of new equipment and homes. Altogether, nine different residential energy ''futures'' are considered. The highest projection, which assumes constant real fuel prices from 1976-2000, shows residential energy use growing from 16 QBtu in 1976 to 28 QBtu in 2000, with an average annual growth rate of 2.3 percent. The baseline, which assumes rising fuel prices, yields an energy use estimate of 24 QBtu in 2000. Implementing all the Federal programs listed above would cut energy use in 2000 by 11 percent, to 22 QBtu. Adopting these programs also reduces energy-related costs to households by $27 billion. Raising fuel prices by 50 percent after 1984 and eliminating all market imperfections yields essentially zero energy growth in the residential sector. However, the cost to households of higher fuel prices amounts to about $60 billion.

Research Organization:
Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn. (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-26
OSTI ID:
5339772
Report Number(s):
ORNL/CON-13
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English