In all the hubbub surrounding renewable energy standards, increased fuel efficiencies, carbon taxes and whether or not these policies will cripple American or global economies, the potential of energy efficiency often seems relegated to the sidelines. But as common ground where the act-nows and the wait-and-sees could agree on sweeping improvements, energy efficiency deserves higher billing.
A new report commissioned by the United Nations Foundation may draw more attention to the issue. It states that improving annual energy efficiency at 2.5% a year in just the G8 countries — roughly double the historical average — would reduce G8 energy demand by about 20% in 2030, returning it to 2004 levels and offsetting the equivalent of 80% of the increased energy supply needs currently projected by the International Energy Agency.
In addition, it says industrial nations could save enough energy through increased efficiency to move the world close to an acceptable CO2 level, at a cost that would be repaid by the savings in just three to five years.
The report recommends governments make economy-wide improvements in energy efficiency and contains a menu of 21 policy options that governments can use to improve energy efficiency in buildings and equipment, industry, transportation, and energy supply.
It states if energy waste was cut worldwide by 2.5% a year, by 2030 the annual carbon dioxide emissions would fall by the total amount emitted by the United States and France in 2004.
That would mean the amount of carbon dioxide equivalent in the atmosphere could be kept below 550 parts per million (ppm) before any additional measures. After those gains were in the bank, policy makers could continue slugging it out as to how, or if, we should lower the carbon dioxide equivalent to 400-450 ppm, the range above which scientists predict unavoidable and catastrophic climate change effects.
According to the report, a global investment of $3.2 trillion in energy efficiency programs and upgrades would avert the need for $3 trillion worth of new power plants and other energy supply investments. The $200 billion net global investment would be recouped by increased energy efficiency, improved business productivity and reduced consumer energy bills within three to five years, on average.
The act-nows assert that steps must be taken immediately to seed the development of new clean technologies. However, energy efficiency is a less contentious issue, through which important, baseline gains can be made and momentum can be built.
“Cutting down on wasted energy is the most powerful way to address climate change, far more than is commonly recognized,” said United Nations Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth in addressing the conference.
Wirth continued, “And energy efficiency improvements are something we can do right now. We save money by increasing efficiency with today’s technology. And, doubling energy efficiency would avoid the need for an amount of energy equal to 2,000 coal-fired power plants. Businesses pay less to operate, consumers enjoy lower energy bills, and we avoid a great deal of global warming pollution.”
A new task force led by the UN Foundation, The Dow Chemical Company and the Alliance to Save Energy has been announced to bring together business and non-profit leaders to work with energy experts and the G8 and Plus 5 countries to improve energy efficiency 2.5% each year.
The task force will review the progress of governments on energy efficiency at each annual Energy Efficiency Global Conference and Exposition. The next EE Global is scheduled for December, 2008, in Brussels, Belgium.
“I’m convinced that the cornerstone of any successful energy policy is to set strong efficiency goals,” said Andrew Liveris, Dow’s chairman and CEO. “There is so much opportunity for the developed world to become more efficient, and for the developing world to leapfrog the business-as-usual development curve. We want to share what we’ve learned in the hope that we can accelerate progress around the world.”
Dow claims its own energy efficiency program from 1994 to 2005 saved as much energy as all California homes use in a year.
Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy, said, “This exciting new business and non-profit partnership will focus the world’s leaders on deploying energy efficiency as the cheapest, cleanest, most plentiful and most readily available resource for both meeting global energy needs and tackling climate change.”
Loading...