SHARE:
submit to reddit



Efficiency improvements could cut global energy demand growth significantly
mongabay.com
November 29, 2006




Growth in global energy consumption could be reduced by more than two-thirds over the next 15 years through energy efficiency efforts according to a study released Wednesday by the McKinsey Global Institute.

McKinsey says that worldwide energy demand could grow at a rate of 2.2 percent per year, driven by growth in by developing economies, but that efforts to boost energy productivity could cut end-use energy demand 15 to 25 percent by 2020.

In order to do so, says the study, a number of factors currently impeding improvements in energy productivity -- "market-distorting subsidies, information gaps, agency issues, and other market inefficiencies" -- must be overcome. McKinsey notes that
    Overall energy demand is not highly responsive, even under high energy-price scenarios. Consumers lack the information and capital they need to become more energy-productive, and tend to make comfort, safety, and convenience higher priorities than price. The small and fragmented nature of energy costs tends to deter businesses from seeking higher energy productivity.
Subsidies in many oil-exporting countries further distort prices and delay wider adoption of energy-saving measures, says the report.

McKinsey argues that energy productivity improvements will require "the removal of existing policy distortions; improving transparency in the pricing and usage of energy; and the selective deployment of demand-side energy policies, such as standards." Further, the report says that policies will have to be tailored to end-users encourage more efficient energy use.

McKinsey's report is titled "Productivity of Growing Energy Demand: A Microeconomic Perspective". McKinsey & Company is a leading global consulting firm.

RELATED

Energy efficiency helped California grow an extra $31 billion finds study
Environmental officials for the state of California and the Brazilian state of Sao Paulo have found significant evidence that greenhouse gas pollution can be substantially reduced at a profit rather than a cost. The study, commissioned by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, found that energy efficiency has helped the California economy grow an extra 3 percent - a $31 billion gain - compared to business as usual. Further, the researchers say that each Californian typically saved about $1,000 per year between 1975 and 1995 just through efficiency standards for buildings and appliances.



This article is based on a news release from McKinsey & Company.



Recommend this article? Comments?
>Digg this article | >Hugg this article | Contact

News options





SHARE THIS ARTICLE:



News index | RSS | News Feed | Twitter | Home


Advertisements:


Organic Apparel from Patagonia | Insect-repelling clothing




SAVE $3 on mongabay shirts from Zazzle thru Aug 23!
Warning: hallucinogenic frog t-shirts
Warning: hallucinogenic frog
Wildlife of Madagascar T-shirt
Wildlife of Madagascar T-shirt
Bold and Dangerous - Pygmy tyrant t-shirts
Bold and Dangerous - Pygmy tyrant
Orangutan: "I'm just here to look pretty" t-shirts
Orangutan: "I'm just here to look pretty"
Baby sea turtle shirt II
Baby sea turtle shirt II
Save gorillas T-Shirt
Save gorillas T-Shirt
Snake eating frog T-shirt
Snake eating frog T-shirt
Will you miss me?  Baby Orangutan t-shirts
Will you miss me? Baby Orangutan
Love me before I'm gone - Gladiator frog t-shirts
Love me before I'm gone - Gladiator frog
Licking this frog may make you crazy t-shirts
Licking this frog may make you crazy



MONGABAY.COM
Mongabay.com seeks to raise interest in and appreciation of wild lands and wildlife, while examining the impact of emerging trends in climate, technology, economics, and finance on conservation and development (more)

CONTENTS
Rainforests
Tropical Fish
News
Madagascar
Pictures
Kids' Site
Languages
TCS Journal
About
Archives
Topics | RSS
Newsletter



WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
Email:


INTERACT
Facebook
Contact
Twitter
Interns
Zenfolio
Help


SUPPORT
Help support mongabay.com when you buy from Amazon.com



POPULAR PAGES
Rainforests
Rain forests
Amazon deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation stats
Why rainforests matter
Saving rainforests
Deforestation stats
Rainforest canopy

News
Most popular articles
Worth saving?
Forest conservation
Earth Day
Poverty alleviation
Cell phones in Africa
Seniors helping Africa
Saving orangutans in Borneo
Palm oil
Amazon palm oil
Future of the Amazon
Cane toads
Dubai environment
Investing to save rainforests
Visiting the rainforest
Defaunation
Blue lizard
Amazon fires
Extinction debate
Extinction crisis
Malaysian palm oil
Borneo

News topics
Amazon
Biofuels
Brazil
Carbon Finance
Climate Change
Deforestation
Energy
Happy-upbeat
Interviews
Oceans
Palm oil
Rainforests
Solutions
Wildlife
MORE TOPICS




T-SHIRTS


  • Madagascar Wildlife
  • Dancing lemurs
  • Don't fall asleep the sloths will eat you
  • Sucking on this frog may make you insane


    CALENDARS

  • Mount Kenya
  • East Africa Safari Wildlife
  • Kenya's Turkana People
  • Peru
  • African Wildlife
  • Alaska
  • China
  • Madagascar Chameleons


    CANVAS BAGS

  • Hallucinogenic frog bag
  • Madagascar wildlife bag










  • Copyright mongabay 2009