Environmental Research Foundation [Printer-friendly version]
September 23, 2013
ENERGY EFFICIENCY: GOOD JOBS, LOW CARBON, AVAILABLE NOW
By Peter Montague
Introduction
Can low-carbon, renewable sources of energy (wind, solar, tidal, and
geothermal) meet all the energy needs of a growing national and global
economy? Yes they can if we use energy more efficiently.
Luckily, proven, affordable energy efficiency technologies are
available off-the-shelf right now. No waiting. Furthermore, energy
efficiency creates good jobs immediately, and provides an excellent
return on investment -- thus freeing up the capital needed to deploy
renewables quickly enough to reduce the threat of climate change.
Here is a short list of studies supporting these claims:
Archer, Christina L., and Mark Z. Jacobson, "Evaluation of Global Wind
Power." Journal of Geophysical Research Vol. 110 (2005), pgs. 1-20.
http://goo.gl/9pvRk
Bryant, Tracey. "Researchers Find Substantial Wind Resource Off
Mid-Atlantic Coast." University of Delaware press release Feb. 1,
2007, citing http://goo.gl/jghD
Cullen, Jonathan M., and others. "Reducing Energy Demand: What Are the
Practical Limits?" Environmental Science & Technology (on the
web Dec. 20, 2010). http://goo.gl/EPSMR
Fthenakis, Vasilis, and others, "The technical, geographical, and
economic feasibility for solar energy to supply the energy needs of
the US." Energy Policy Vol. 37 (2009), pgs. 387-399.
http://goo.gl/Z8itG
Gallucci, Maria. "Greening of Building Sector on Track to Deliver
Trillions in Savings by 2030." InsideClimateNews, Feb. 1, 2012.
http://goo.gl/PcvUb
Gies, Erica. "Doing More While Using Less Power." New York Times
September 1, 2010. http://goo.gl/3tGU
Goldstein, David B. "America's Future: Austerity or Invisible Energy?"
Switchboard blog June 11, 2010. http://goo.gl/hhYf0
Goldstein, David B. Invisible Energy (Point Richmond, Calif:
Bay Tree Publishing, 2010). http://goo.gl/4fdJr
Hendricks, Bracken, Bill Campbell, and Pen Goodale. Efficiency Works;
Creating Good Jobs and New Markets Through Energy Efficiency.
Washington, D.C.: Center for American Progress and Energy Resource
Management, Inc., 2010. http://goo.gl/HZW8R
Hsu, Tiffany. "Green Revolution Comes to Urban Neighborhoods." Los
Angeles Times Sept. 3, 2010. http://goo.gl/jLcT
International Energy Agency. 25 Energy Efficiency Policy
recommendations. 2011 Update. Paris, France: 2011.
http://goo.gl/PwWBLa
Jacobson, Mark Z., and Mark A. Delucchi, "A Path to Sustainable Energy
by 2030." Scientific American (Nov., 2009), pgs. 58-65.
http://goo.gl/1vC2V
Knight, Helen. "Efficiency could cut world energy use over 70 per
cent." New Scientist Jan. 26, 2011. http://goo.gl/8bHJr
Kempton, Willett, and others, "Electric power from offshore wind via
synoptic-scale interconnection." Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences Vol. 107, No. 16 (April 20, 2010), pgs.
7240-7245. http://goo.gl/VWGcr
Kempton, Willett, and others, "Large CO2 reductions via offshore wind
power matched to inherent storage in energy end-uses." Geophysical
Research Letters Vol. 34 (2007), pgs. 1-5. http://goo.gl/jghD
Lave, Lester B., and others. Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in
the United States. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press, 2010.
http://goo.gl/vlpKa
Lovins, Amory, and others. Reinventing Fire; Bold Business Solutions
for the New Energy Era. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green
Publishing, 2011. http://goo.gl/zGwsm
Lovins, L. Hunter, and Boyd Cohen. Climate Capitalism: Capitalism in
the Age of Climate Change. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2011.
http://goo.gl/o0DVX
Peach, Sarah. "Current Technology Could Reduce Global Energy Demand by
85%." Chemical & Engineering News Jan. 19, 2011.
http://goo.gl/pezxT
Romm, Joe. "Energy Efficiency is THE core climate solution, Part 1:
The biggest low-carbon resource by far." Climate Progress blog
July 23, 2008. http://goo.gl/I4Rji
Romm, Joe. "Creating Jobs and Savings with Energy Effficiency." Climate
Progress blog August 31, 2010. http://goo.gl/hkfi
Sovacool, Benjamin K. The Dirty Energy Dilemma: What's Blocking
Clean Power in the United States. (Westport, Conn.: Praeger,
2008). http://goo.gl/XbLKd
Sovacool, Benjamin K., and Charmaine Watts, "Going Completely Renewable:
Is It Possible (Let Alone Desirable)?" Electricity Journal Vol.
22, No. 4 (May 2009), pgs. 95-111. http://goo.gl/Xozfi