Global Energy Efficiency and Technologies to Further Its Progress

Abstract

Since 1973, U.S. gains in the efficient use of energy have saved a remarkable amount of energy and money for consumers and industry, approaching one-half of our energy bills. During a period of scarce energy and high prices that lasted through 1986, the United States doubled the energy efficiency of most new products. Before 1973, U.S. energy was very cheap, and U.S. use of energy per dollar of GNP (“E/GNP”) was about twice that of Western Europe (or Japan). The Soviet Union used about four times as much as Europe. Hence U.S. success tells more about the potential in Eastern Europe and the former S.U. than does experience in Western Europe or Japan.

The potential for future savings through energy efficiency is even larger than a second factor of two, through the implementation of proven strategies like revising utility mandates and profit rules to allow utilities to diversify into selling “energy services” and helping customers become more efficient.

Another strategy with a successful record is to encourage the market penetration of more efficient technologies such as:

• Lighting: electronic ballasts, compact fluorescent lamps, mirrored luminaires, occupancy sensors, LED exit lights, etc

• Windows: Low emissivity (heat mirror) and selective (mirror to both heat and near infrared)

• Motors: variable speed drive, super-efficient motors, substitution of traditional V-belt drive with “cogged” V-belts

• Promising new strategies are also nearing implementation, including the use of cooler roofing and paving materials and shade trees to reduce air conditioning load and reverse urban heat islands

Promising new strategies are also nearing implementation, including the use of cooler roofing and paving materials and shade trees to reduce air conditioning load and reverse urban heat islands.

The California and New England Utility “Collaboratives.”

California has ordered no new central power plants since 1975. Its enviable economic growth has been “fueled” by improved end-use efficiency, small gas turbines, and renewables, mainly wind. To maintain this profitable trend, profit rules have been changed so that utilities become richer by selling energy efficiency than by selling energy.

Reversing summer urban heat islands

Most cities are summer “heat islands” because vegetation (which cools by evapotranspiration) has usually been replaced with dark-colored roofs and pavements, which get hot under the sun and then heat the air. A study of Los Angeles shows that white roofs, concrete colored pavement and 10 million shade trees will cool the city by 3°C (at 3 pm) and reduce “smog” (ozone) by 12%. Air conditioning savings will be $175,000/HOUR and smog benefits, $360,000/HOUR.