Using Energy and Materials More Efficiently: Large and Profitable Potentials, But Little Attention from Energy and Climate Policy

Artikel

The paper first outlines the challenges the global energy system is facing. It then summarises the present knowledge of energy efficient solutions in all energy using sectors from primary energy to useful energy and, more importantly, from useful energy to energy services (material efficiency and substitution) The examination of these efficiency potentials considers the lifetimes of manufactured artefacts: buildings and infrastructure that will save or waste energy over the next 60 to 70 years. The result - a reduction of present energy use per capita by a factor of 3, labelled the "2000 Watt/cap society", is briefly discussed as are organizational measures and entrepreneurial innovations which could be immediately taken up. Besides discussing the classical reasons why many profitable energy efficiency potentials are not realized, the article also calls for more creativity and trust in the motivation and opportunities of players and for an analysis of the relevant players of the related innovation system. Finally, the recent activities of the Energy Summit of the German government and the Commission's Action Plan for Energy Efficiency are shortly discussed using the criteria developed in the article.

Object Details

• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Journal: Vierteljahrshefte zur Wirtschaftsforschung ; ISSN: 1861-1559 ; Volume: 76 ; Year: 2007 ; Issue: 1 ; Pages: 50-64 ; Berlin: Duncker & Humblot

Classification and Topics

• Classification: Wirtschaft ; Renewable Resources and Conservation: Government Policy ; Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation: Demand and Supply; Prices ; Energy: Demand and Supply; Prices ; Climate; Natural Disasters and Their Management; Global Warming ; Environmental Economics: Technological Innovation
• Subject: Energy efficiency ; efficiency potential ; energy innovation ; energy services ; global energy system ; energy efficieny policy ; Energieeinsparung ; Stoffstrommanagement ; Energiepolitik ; Klimaschutz ; Deutschland ; EU-Staaten

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Jochem, Eberhard
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (who): Duncker & Humblot
• (where): Berlin
• (when): 2007

Further information

• DOI: doi:10.3790/vjh.76.1.50
• Handle: http://hdl.handle.net/10419/99462
• Last update: 10.03.2025, 11:44 AM CET