TY - JOUR
T1 - Energy Efficiency: What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years?
AU - Saunders, Harry
AU - Roy, Joyashree
AU - Azevedo, Inês M.L.
AU - Chakravarty, Debalina
AU - Dasgupta, Shyamasree
AU - Rue du Can, Stephane de la
AU - Druckman, Angela
AU - Fouquet, Roger
AU - Grubb, Michael
AU - Lin, Boqiang
AU - Stern, David
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
U2 - 10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-084937
DO - 10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-084937
M3 - Article
SN - 1543-5938
VL - 46
SP - 135
EP - 165
JO - Annual Review of Environment and Resources
JF - Annual Review of Environment and Resources
ER -