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