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America's economy and lifestyles have been shaped by the low prices and availability of energy. In the last decade, however, the prices of oil, natural gas, and coal have increased dramatically, leaving consumers and the industrial and service sectors looking for ways to reduce energy use. To achieve greater energy efficiency, we need technology, more informed consumers and producers, and investments in more energy-efficient industrial processes, businesses, residences, and transportation. As part of the America's Energy Future project, Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book evaluates technologies based on their estimated times to initial commercial deployment, and provides an analysis of costs, barriers, and research needs. This quantitative characterization of technologies will guide policy makers toward planning the future of energy use in America. This book will also have much to offer to industry leaders, investors, environmentalists, and others looking for a practical diagnosis of energy efficiency possibilities.
For multi-user PDF licensing, please contact customer service. Energy touches our lives in countless ways and its costs are felt when we fill up at the gas pump, pay our home heating bills, and keep businesses both large and small running. There are long-term costs as well: to the environment, as natural resources are depleted and pollution contributes to global climate change, and to national security and independence, as many of the world's current energy sources are increasingly concentrated in geopolitically unstable regions. The country's challenge is to develop an energy portfolio that addresses these concerns while still providing sufficient, affordable energy reserves for the nation. The United States has enormous resources to put behind solutions to this energy challenge; the dilemma is to identify which solutions are the right ones. Before deciding which energy technologies to develop, and on what timeline, we need to understand them better. America's Energy Future analyzes the potential of a wide range of technologies for generation, distribution, and conservation of energy. This book considers technologies to increase energy efficiency, coal-fired power generation, nuclear power, renewable energy, oil and natural gas, and alternative transportation fuels. It offers a detailed assessment of the associated impacts and projected costs of implementing each technology and categorizes them into three time frames for implementation.
"In 1980, energy efficiency researchers formed the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). As we turn 35 years old this year, we thought it would be useful to look at energy efficiency progress over the past 35 years and to also look at possible and recommended pathways for the next 35 years (i.e., through 2050). We find that the energy intensity of the US economy has steadily improved since 1980, with the majority of this improvement due to energy efficiency. Each of the major sectors has shown gains. Many factors have driven these efficiency improvements, including market forces, policy impacts and the interplay between the two. On the other hand, energy prices have not been a major driver, since energy prices today are either similar to or less than 1980 prices after the effect of inflation is removed While much progress has been made, there are large and cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities that collectively can reduce 2050 energy use by 40-60% relative to current forecasts. Specific opportunities are discussed. In order to realize these energy-saving opportunities we need to harness and transform markets, make efficiency a key strategy for the utility of the future and expand federal, state, and local policy efforts."--Publisher's description (viewed June 25, 2015)."
Household energy use accounts for nearly one-fourth of all energy consumed in the United States, amounting to more than $200 billion per year spent by consumers. Recent increases in energy prices have heightened consumers' interest in making their households more energy efficient. To this end, the federal government manages two key efforts--EnergyGuide and Energy Star--to inform consumers about the energy consumed by certain household products. EnergyGuide is a mandatory labeling program created under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act of 1975 (EPCA) and administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with assistance from the Department of Energy (DOE). It requires manufacturers to label and prominently display information about the energy consumption and annual energy costs of 11 categories of household products. In recent years, manufacturers have used adhesive backed labels adhered to appliances and so-called "hang tags" loosely attached to the interior or exterior of appliances. In its August 2007 revisions to the rule, FTC, among other things, prohibited the use of hang tags on the exterior of appliances, but continues to allow them on the inside. The law requires retailers to provide this information in catalogs offering products for sale. In 2000, FTC interpreted its authority over catalogs to encompass Web sites and required retailers to provide the same information on Web sites where consumers may purchase such products. The law prohibits retailers from removing labels placed by manufacturers or making them illegible. Also, EPCA requires DOE, in consultation with FTC, to study new product categories to determine whether they should be added to the EnergyGuide program and to report annually on the energy savings of the program. Energy Star is a voluntary labeling program created in response to the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990, and the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and jointly administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and DOE. In general, it is designed to identify models for 26 categories of household products that, without sacrificing performance, are the most energy efficient (the top 25 percent). Manufacturers are permitted to apply the Energy Star logo to products that the manufacturers identify are qualified, based on EPA or DOE criteria. Standards for internal control in the federal government require federal agencies, including FTC, EPA, and DOE, to establish goals, measure performance, and report program costs and accomplishments in order to improve management and program effectiveness. In this context, Congress asked us to analyze the EnergyGuide and Energy Star programs to determine (1) how these programs have changed over time, (2) how federal agencies verify the accuracy of the energy consumption estimates for household products covered by these programs, (3) the actions federal agencies take to ensure that the EnergyGuide is available to consumers and that the Energy Star logo is not misused, and (4) how federal agencies measure the effectiveness and cost of these programs.