Page - 42 - in Water, Energy, and Environment - A Primer

approaches to delivering energy efficiency are being developed and tested. While there is some debate about how to ensure and document actual energy savings, energy efficiency has demonstrated in many cases that it is a cost-effective strategy for economic growth without increasing energy consumption. A prime example is the state of California, which in the 1970s, under the guidance of visionaries such as Art Rosenfeld, began implementing building code and appliance standardswith strict efficiency requirements. As a result, California’s per capita energy consumption has remained flat for decades while the corresponding number for the entire nation has doubled. California also ranked energy efficiency as its first priority for new energy resources, ahead of renewable electricity supplies (#2) and new fossil fuel plants (#3). Other US states and other countries have followed suit. 5.5.3 Savingenergy How much energy can be saved through energy efficiency? We know that large amounts of energy are wasted through losses in transmission lines, thermal power generation, lighting and heating systems, internal combustion engines, and other industrial and commercial technologies. The Rocky Mountain Institute, headed by Amory Lovins, estimates that ‘there are abundant opportunities to save 70% to 90% of the energy and cost for lighting, fan, and pump systems; 50% for electric motors; and 60% in areas such as heating, cooling, office equipment, and appliances.’ (24)TheUSDepartment ofEnergy (DOE) has similarly identified potential for large energy savings.Manyother studies confirm these estimates andpresent many reasons to improve energy efficiency: reduced energy consumption reduces energy costs, reduces emissions of CO2 and other toxic combustion products, reduces water demands, reduces energy imports, and keepsmoney not spent on imports available for local investment. Water,Energy, andEnvironment–APrimer42