International variations in energy use: findings from a comparative study

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1977 · Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.eg.03.110178.001221· OSTI ID:6869366

Darmstadter, J; Dunkerley, J; Alterman, J

This article deals with the frequently posed question as to why per capita consumption of primary energy resources is so much higher in the U.S. than it is in other advanced industrial countries whose per capita income does not differ appreciably. President Carter's National Energy Plan, for example, referred to the greater U.S. use of energy per dollar of gross national product compared with any other industrialized nation and alludes to the fact that the possibility indeed exists that the American standards of living can be maintained at a much lower level of energy use. Such a finding could have major significance for the direction and eventual payoff from conservation strategies that the United States might see fit to undertake. This article provides a first step toward discussing this issue. Growing out of research conducted by Resources for the Future over the past several years, it is a quantitative reconnaisance depicting the comparative patterns of energy consumption in 1972 for nine countries considered to have high incomes by international standards. These countries are: U.S., Canada, France, W. Germany, Italy, Netherlands, U.K., Sweden, and Japan. Further, those components of energy consumption are identified that give rise to variations between countries in the relationship between energy use and national output. Finally, as far as possible, the respective contributions of (a) economic structure, and (b) characteristics of energy utilization, to the intercountry variations in energy and output are interpreted. Where the data permit, underlying factors--such as relative price differences and demographic features--are woven into the analysis. Four major sectors--industrial, transformation losses, household-commercial, and transport--are considered and compared. (MCW)

• Research Organization: Resources for the Future, Washington, DC
• OSTI ID: 6869366
• Journal Information: Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States), Journal Name: Annu. Rev. Energy; (United States) Vol. 3; ISSN AREDD
• 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
ASIA
CANADA
COMMERCIAL SECTOR
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CONVERSION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY LOSSES
ENERGY POLICY
EUROPE
FRANCE
GERMAN FEDERAL REPUBLIC
GLOBAL ASPECTS
GOVERNMENT POLICIES
GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
HEAT LOSSES
INCOME
INDUSTRY
ITALY
JAPAN
LOSSES
NATIONAL ENERGY PLAN
NETHERLANDS
NORTH AMERICA
RESIDENTIAL SECTOR
SCANDINAVIA
SOCIAL IMPACT
STANDARDS
SWEDEN
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR
UNITED KINGDOM
USA
VARIATIONS