Effects of the National Energy Act on energy use and economics in residential and commercial buildings

Journal Article · Mon Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1979 · Energy Syst. Policy; (United States)

OSTI ID:5741382

Hirst, E

In 1977 heating, cooling, lighting, and other operations in residential and commercial buildings used 27 QBtu of energy. This is more than one-third of the nation's total energy budget. Future trends in energy use in buildings are likely to depend strongly on fuel prices and government policies to save energy. Four scenarios are examined: (1) a high case in which real fuel prices remain constant from 1976 through 2000, (2) a baseline in which fuel prices rise as projected by DOE, (3) a conservation case that includes higher electricity and gas prices plus the regulatory, financial incentive, and information programs of the 1978 National Energy Act and preceding Federal legislation, and (4) another conservation case that also includes new technologies (more efficient equipment, appliances, and structures). These scenarios are analyzed using two detailed engineering-economic models of energy use in residential and commercial buildings developed at ORNL. Energy use in the year 2000 ranges from a high of 47 QBtu to a low of 32 QBtu with these four scenarios. Growth rates in energy use in buildings for the 1977 to 2000 period range from 2.7 to 1.0%/y, compared with the historical growth rate of 4.0%/y from 1950 to 1977. Commercial energy growth is always faster than residential growth. Adopting the conservation programs of scenarios 3 and 4 cuts cumulative (1977 to 2000) energy use by 76 QBtu. These programs reduce the present worth (8% real interest rate) of energy-related expenditures by $34 billion.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 5741382
• Journal Information: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Syst. Policy; (United States) Vol. 3:2; ISSN ESYPB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
298000 -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Consumption & Utilization
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
320103 -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- School
Municipal
& Other Public Buildings-- (-1987)
BUILDINGS
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS
ECONOMIC IMPACT
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
FINANCIAL INCENTIVES
FUELS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
INTEREST RATE
LAWS
NATIONAL ENERGY ACT
PRICES
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS