Source: McKinsey & Co.
"Energy efficiency is almost a no brainer in policy terms."
(Jack Mintz, writing in the Globe and Mail May 27th.)
(Jack Mintz, writing in the Globe and Mail May 27th.)
Jack may get the quote, but McKinsey and Co. have to get the credit for demonstrating why this is so. McKinsey released its first cost curve in 2007, demonstrating why energy efficiency was both the most important option for curbing the growth of global emissions and the most cost effective. The curve was based on research the firm had conducted in concert with many of its clients.
Since 2007, McKinsey has continued to refine and extend this work, culminating in the revised cost curve released earlier this year. Along the way they have managed to construct a whole portfolio of sector and country specific curves and spawned a consulting tool that is widely used as a starting point for those who would advise individual companies on how to approach the as yet undefined beast that is climate change.
Essentially, McKinsey points out that when considered in concert with all of the available options for reducing greenhouse gases, energy efficiency for residential and comercial buildings, road transport and industrial processes is the most cost effective option available, often providing a positive payback. And the emissions reduction benefits of improved energy productivity aren't small. Out of 38 Giga tonnes of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) emission reductions estimated to be available with existing or likely to be realized technologies, 14 GtCO2e would come as a result of energy efficiency investments.
Or put another way ....
My goal here isn't to sing McKinsey's praises. They're far more able to do so then I'll ever be. No, I want to properly introduce a series of posts, articles and materials that I am increasingly coming across and will intermittantly link to here, all highlighting specific energy efficiency investments and achievements.
I'll start with a post on PG&E's Next 100 blog. Writing June 2nd, Jonathan Marshall talks about PG&E's deployment of Smart Meters:
Allowing consumers to understand and manage their energy demand is certainly a first step towards improved residential energy efficiency.
More to come.
Since 2007, McKinsey has continued to refine and extend this work, culminating in the revised cost curve released earlier this year. Along the way they have managed to construct a whole portfolio of sector and country specific curves and spawned a consulting tool that is widely used as a starting point for those who would advise individual companies on how to approach the as yet undefined beast that is climate change.
Essentially, McKinsey points out that when considered in concert with all of the available options for reducing greenhouse gases, energy efficiency for residential and comercial buildings, road transport and industrial processes is the most cost effective option available, often providing a positive payback. And the emissions reduction benefits of improved energy productivity aren't small. Out of 38 Giga tonnes of CO2 equivalent (GtCO2e) emission reductions estimated to be available with existing or likely to be realized technologies, 14 GtCO2e would come as a result of energy efficiency investments.
Or put another way ....
"If all energy efficiency opportunities identified in our research were captured, annual growth in global electricity demand between 2005 and 2030 would be reduced from 2.7 percent per year in the BAU case to about 1.5 percent."
Source: McKinsey, 2009
My goal here isn't to sing McKinsey's praises. They're far more able to do so then I'll ever be. No, I want to properly introduce a series of posts, articles and materials that I am increasingly coming across and will intermittantly link to here, all highlighting specific energy efficiency investments and achievements.
I'll start with a post on PG&E's Next 100 blog. Writing June 2nd, Jonathan Marshall talks about PG&E's deployment of Smart Meters:
"One big improvement, in addition to giving customers timely and
detailed information on their energy use, will be expanded availability
of voluntary pricing programs that can save them money and help the
environment. Such pricing programs reward customers for cutting back on
energy use a few hours each year during periods of "critical peak"
demand, typically on scalding days when air conditioners are running
flat out."
Allowing consumers to understand and manage their energy demand is certainly a first step towards improved residential energy efficiency.
More to come.
