Luis Mundaca
Professor
Energy Efficiency : What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years?
Author
Summary, in English
This article presents a critical assessment of 40 years of research that may be brought under the umbrella of energy efficiency, spanning different aggregations and domains-from individual producing and consuming agents to economy-wide effects to the role of innovation to the influence of policy. After 40 years of research, energy efficiency initiatives are generally perceived as highly effective. Innovation has contributed to lowering energy technology costs and increasing energy productivity. Energy efficiency programs in many cases have reduced energy use per unit of economic output and have been associated with net improvements in welfare, emission reductions, or both. Rebound effects at the macro level still warrant careful policy attention, as they may be nontrivial. Complexity of energy efficiency dynamics calls for further methodological and empirical advances, multidisciplinary approaches, and granular data at the service level for research in this field to be of greatest societal benefit.
Department/s
- The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
Publishing year
2021
Language
English
Pages
135-165
Publication/Series
Annual Review of Environment and Resources
Volume
46
Links
Document type
Journal article review
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Topic
- Economics and Business
- Environmental Engineering
Keywords
- efficiency policy
- energy efficiency
- energy efficiency gap
- energy intensity
- public policy
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1543-5938