Energy Inefficiency in the US Economy: A New Case for Conservation

Ayres, R.U. (1989). Energy Inefficiency in the US Economy: A New Case for Conservation. IIASA Research Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: RR-89-012

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Abstract

It is argued that the US is much less efficient at converting energy into useful final goods and services than has generally been assumed. Defining efficiency as the ratio of theoretical minimum energy consumption to actual energy consumption, for essentially the same mix of goods and services we have now, the current level of energy efficiency for the US is about 2.5% plus or minus 1%. This implies that energy efficiency for the nation as a whole could be increased tenfold without exceeding efficiency levels currently claimed for internal combustion engines. Conversely, it means that GNP could increase by a factor of ten without using more energy than the US now consumes. It also implies that a sufficiently strong combination of policies to encourage energy conservation technology worldwide would permit accelerated economic development in the third world without further global environmental degradation.

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