Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States (2010) / Chapter Skim
Currently Skimming:
Summary
Summary
Pages 1-20
The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
Select key terms on the right to highlight them within pages of the chapter.
From page 1... ...
economy, technologies exist today that can help make it possible to achieve significant energy savings and still maintain current lifestyles. The 1973–1974 oil embargo and each subsequent energy crisis prompted studies showing that the United States could save energy and money by investing in energy efficiency.
|
From page 2... ...
Commercial Buildings 19% (18.5 Quads) Industry 31% (31.3 Quads)
|
From page 3... ...
These estimates represent technology assessments, not projections -- that is, the estimates are assessments of the potential energy savings achievable with the use of energy efficiency technologies, assuming a rapid rate of deployment, but one nevertheless consistent with past deployment rates. As indicated in Table S.1, the panel found that energy efficiency in buildings offers the greatest possibility for U.S.
|
From page 4... ...
The result would be lower costs and a more competitive economy that uses less fossil fuel, has lower emissions of greenhouse gases, and puts less pressure on environmental quality. OVERARCHING FINDINGS Overarching Finding 1 Energy-efficient technologies for residences and commercial buildings, trans portation, and industry exist today, or are expected to be developed in the normal course of business, that could potentially save 30 percent of the energy used in the U.S.
|
From page 5... ...
As indicated by the differences between the conservative and optimistic estimates presented in Table S.1, there are considerable uncertainties in projections of both the timing and the quantity of potential energy savings. Formidable barriers impede the deployment of energy-efficient technologies, even if their adoption is projected to save money over time.
|
From page 6... ...
to insert energy-efficient technologies into these long-lived capital goods. SECTOR ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS Buildings As shown in Figures S.1 and S.2, the myriad activities associated with residential and commercial buildings consumed about 40 quads, or 41 percent of the primary energy used in 2008 in the United States, including three-quarters of the electricity and half of the natural gas.
|
From page 7... ...
1.2 Efficiency Many studies cited in Chapter 2 that have evaluated the quantity of realisti cally achievable savings as a function of the cost of saved energy show consistent results, despite differences in assumptions and approaches. As determined by the panel from its review of such studies, median predictions of achievable and cost effective energy savings are 1.2 percent per year for electricity and 0.5 percent per year for natural gas, amounting to a 25–30 percent energy savings for the U.S.
|
From page 8... ...
in residential and commer cial buildings for electricity and natural gas use as a result of energy efficiency measures were dramatically lower than the corresponding average retail prices for electricity and natural gas in 2007, indicating that large savings in energy costs were available. Not reflected in Table S.2 are the results of integrated approaches designed to yield system-wide or building-wide savings.
|
From page 9... ...
With appropriate policies and programs, they could become the norm in new construction. B.5 Despite substantial barriers to widespread energy efficiency improve ments in buildings, a number of countervailing factors could drive increased energy efficiency, including rising energy prices, growing con cern about global climate change and the resulting willingness of con sumers and businesses to take action to reduce emissions, a movement toward "green buildings," and growing recognition of the significant nonenergy benefits offered by energy efficiency measures.
|
From page 10... ...
If the energy savings from improvements in passenger vehicles are to be large, Americans' penchant for increasing vehicle size and performance will have to give way to the goal of reducing fuel consumption -- that is, improvements in fuel efficiency must have priority over increases in vehicle size and performance. The panel found that evolutionary improvements in gasoline vehicles using ICEs are likely to prove the most cost-effective technology for improving fuel efficiency and reducing petroleum consumption, at least through 2020.
|
From page 11... ...
As shown, evolutionary improvements could reduce the fuel TABLE S.3 Potential Relative Vehicle Petroleum Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Vehicle Efficiency Improvements Through 2035 Petroleum Consumption Greenhouse Gas Emissionsa (gasoline equivalent) Relative to Relative to Relative to Relative to Current Gasoline 2035 Gasoline Current Gasoline 2035 Gasoline Propulsion System ICE ICE ICE ICE Current gasoline 1.00 1.00 Current turbocharged gasoline 0.90 0.90 Current diesel 0.80 0.80 Current hybrid 0.75 0.75 2035 gasoline 0.65 1.00 0.65 1 2035 turbocharged gasoline 0.60 0.90 0.60 0.90 2035 diesel 0.55 0.85 0.55 0.85 2035 HEV 0.40 0.60 0.40 0.60 2035 PHEV 0.20 0.30 0.35–0.45 0.55–0.70 2035 BEV None 0.35–0.50 0.55–0.80 2035 HFCV None 0.30–0.40 0.45–0.60 Note: These estimates assume that vehicle performance (maximum acceleration and power-to-weight ratio)
|
From page 12... ...
It then developed both conservative and optimistic scenarios for technology penetration and examined their impacts on fuel consumption in the U.S. LDV fleet.
|
From page 13... ...
emphasis on ever-increasing vehicle power and size to an emphasis on using efficiency improvements to improve vehicle fuel consumption. T.3 In the near term, fuel-consumption reductions will come predominantly from improved gasoline and diesel engines, improved transmissions, and reduced vehicle weight and drag.
|
From page 14... ...
Reductions of 10–20 percent in the fuel economy of heavy- and medium-duty vehicles appear feasible over a decade or so. A broad examination is needed of the potential for improving the effec tiveness of the freight system to reduce energy consumption further.
|
From page 15... ...
Table S.4 summarizes the potential for energy savings in industry as estimated by various studies. Beyond 2020, a wide array of advanced industrial technologies could make significant contributions to reducing industrial energy consumption and CO2 emissions.
|
From page 16... ...
from a baseline forecast of 6.08 quads. b6.1 percent of the 2.31 quads of energy consumption forecast for the paper industry in 2020 by the Annual Energy Outlook 008 (EIA, 2008a)
|
From page 17... ...
RELATED CONSIDERATIONS Experience with Policies and Programs As noted above, the most cost-effective energy efficiency policies and programs of the last three decades (see Chapter 5) were vehicle and appliance efficiency stan dards, regulatory reforms to promote the adoption of combined heat and power systems, ENERGY STAR® product labeling and promotion, building energy codes, and utility and state end-use efficiency programs.
|
From page 18... ...
Energy efficiency is a dynamic resource. Basic and applied research can con tinue to develop technologies that deliver large energy savings.
|
From page 19... ...
2000. Opportunities to Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the U.S.
|
From page 20... ...
2007. Determination of weight elasticity of fuel economy for ICE, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles.
|
Key Terms
This material may be derived from roughly machine-read images, and so is provided only to facilitate research.
More
information on Chapter Skim is available.