Energy Productivity

This report examines various topics and issues related to worldwide energy productivity and energy conservation. Following an introduction, these issues are considered in 6 sections focusing on: (1) energy demand projections (with data on 1982 energy consumption in selected countries); (2) continued industrial efficiency gains (including data on energy use in steel manufacturing and electrical energy use in aluminum smelting in major producing countries, ranked by efficiency); (3) the saving of oil in transportation (with data on 1982 automobile fuel economy in selected countries); (4) improvements in the energy use in buildings and appliances; and (5 and 6) two contrasting views of the world energy future. The first view indicates that global energy demand will double by the year 2025 while the second, based on an understanding of energy conservation, shows how demand could be held to a much smaller increase, stretching nonrenewable energy supplies and facilitating the use of renewable resources. Governmental policy initiatives designed to achieve the desired conservation potential are addressed. The crucial policies to be implemented include market pricing of energy, elimination of subsidies for energy use, implementation of regulations to overcome market failures, provision of consumer information, research and development, and visible encouragement of conservation by leaders at all levels. (JN)

'Increasing energy-efficiency is important because it offers the prospect of partly solving our climate change and energy security problems without pain. This book sheds further light on the issue, focusing on energy-extensive economic activities which, by sheer volume, collectively use a substantial amount of energy. That simple fact alone makes this book worthwhile, but there are many other gems.' Richard Tol, the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI), Ireland This innovative book explores the adoption of energy-saving technologies and their impact on energy efficiency improvements. It contains a mix of theoretical and empirical contributions, and combines and compares economic and physical indicators to monitor and analyse trends in energy efficiency. The authors pay considerable attention to empirical research on the determinants of energy-saving investment including uncertainty, energy-price volatility and subsidies. They also discuss the role of energy modelling in policy design and the potential effect of energy policies on technology diffusion in energy-extensive sectors. Written from a multi-disciplinary perspective, this book will appeal to academics and graduates in the areas of energy-saving technologies, energy economics and natural resource economics, as well as policy-makers particularly those in energy policy.

Energy Efficiency: Concepts and Calculations is the first book of its kind to provide an applied, systems oriented description of energy intensity and efficiency in modern economies across the entire energy chain. With an emphasis on analysis, specifically energy flow analysis, lifecycle energy accounting, economic analysis, technology evaluation, and policies/strategies for adopting high energy efficiency standards, the book provides a comprehensive understanding of the concepts, tools and methodologies for studying and modeling macro-level energy flows through, and within, key economic sectors (electric power, industrial, commercial, residential and transportation). Providing a technical discussion of the application of common methodologies (e.g. cost-benefit analysis and lifecycle assessment), each chapter contains figures intended to be diagnostic, charts and examples from each sector, including the policies that have been put in place to promote and incentivize the adoption of energy efficient technologies. Contains models and tools to analyze each stage at the macro-level by tracking energy consumption and how the resulting data might change energy use Includes accessible references and a glossary of common terms at the end of each chapter Provides diagnostic figures, tables and schematics within the context of local, regional and national energy consumption and utilization

Discusses The Concept Of Energy Use In Agriculture, Examines The Measurements Of Energy Efficiency And Methods Of Measurements Of Agricultural Productivity And Makes A Comparison Of The Use Of Energy In The Developed And Developing Countries. Five Chapters And 11 Appendices.

Energy efficiency is more of a journey than a battle. It starts with small steps, taken at the local and state levels. It is a matter of identifying and then practicing good habits in our daily lives, at home and at work. Every idea and process described in this book, if performed reasonably well, will put money in your pocket. You will not only save money; you will probably make money—and you will take important steps toward saving the planet. Power Economics is a book for thoughtful people who want to cut their energy costs and diminish the harmful effects of greenhouse gas emissions. Climate change and global warming are not speculative fantasies. They are real. They threaten communities, towns, cities, regions, nations, and continents. Even if you don't care about polar bears and penguins, the effects of melting icecaps and shifting ocean currents will transform your life and the lives of the people around you. Power Economics offers practical steps and achievable strategies for reducing the destructive impact of climate change and global warming. Yes, we need energy to live and to sustain our economies. But we don’t need to burn fossil fuels and release CO2 gas at levels that will result in a global catastrophe. There are reasonable alternatives to our current practices. None of the ideas that described in this book are entirely new or totally unfamiliar. They aren't extreme or bizarre. They won't require harsh or draconian measures to work. All of them follow basic rules of common sense and can be achieved at reasonable cost. "I have done my best to convey the complexity and urgency of the matter. I hope that you find this book informative and useful. Working together, we can shed many of our wasteful energy habits and begin the task of building a world that is safe, sustainable and healthy," writes author and energy expert Elena Cahill.