On February 5, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to discuss the enormous economic benefits that can be gained by increasing our nation's energy efficiency. Investing in efficiency measures is the most immediate and effective way to lower energy demand, reduce carbon emissions, and save households and businesses money. Some experts say the potential for savings throughout all sectors of the US economy is estimated to be on the order of 45-50 billion barrels of oil-equivalent between now and 2030, or about 2.5 times more than some estimates of what would be available from off-shore drilling. They also submit that current federal policy does not take full advantage of savings offered by promoting energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and other sectors. Indeed, efficiency should be viewed as a hidden energy reserve as well as an economic opportunity.
This briefing focused on recent analyses that detail the economic benefits that energy efficiency measures can offer through the transportation and building sectors. Skip Laitner of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) provided an assessment of how energy efficiency can make a significantly large contribution toward stabilizing energy prices and strengthening the robustness of the US economy. Michael Lubell from the American Physical Society (APS) discussed the recent APS report on short-term, medium-term and long-term opportunities for improving energy efficiency, and the actions required to achieve the economic benefits that are readily available.
Speakers for this event included:
John A. "Skip" Laitner, Director of Economic and Social Analysis, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) Presentation (pdf)
Michael Lubell, Director of Public Affairs, American Physical Society (APS) and Professor of Physics at City University of New York (CUNY) Presentation (pdf)
Click here to download the APS report Energy Future: Think Efficiency
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Fossil Fuel
TheTeam
On February 5, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) held a briefing to discuss the enormous economic benefits that can be gained by increasing our nation's energy efficiency. Investing in efficiency measures is the most immediate and effective way to lower energy demand, reduce carbon emissions, and save households and businesses money. Some experts say the potential for savings throughout all sectors of the US economy is estimated to be on the order of 45-50 billion barrels of oil-equivalent between now and 2030, or about 2.5 times more than some estimates of what would be available from off-shore drilling. They also submit that current federal policy does not take full advantage of savings offered by promoting energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and other sectors. Indeed, efficiency should be viewed as a hidden energy reserve as well as an economic opportunity.
