Energy Efficiency leads to less energy consumption in NW

[portlandatheist]

In 2008, energy consumption DECREASED in the Pacific Northwest:

Improved energy efficiency reduced power demand by an amount equal to about 148,000 homes across the Northwest last year.

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council said regional energy savings in 2008 were the best for any year since recordkeeping began 30 years ago.

Link

I found this information really interesting and surprising. There is still too little data to know, but I'm very curious is this is the beginning of a long term trend and if this trend will continue: that demand for energy may actually decrease.

We are always becoming more energy efficient but this rarely translates to lessening consumption due to Jevons Paradox: As we learn to use energy more efficiently, we end up consuming more of that energy. This of course isn't a "law" of economics nor does it mean that efficiency is undesirable. I think its just something that happens as a technology develops and matures and then the effect reaches a plateau or decreases. There are so many examples of this: flat screen TVS are much more efficient than their CRT predecessors, but we are replacing our 24" CRT TV's with 42" LCDs that actually end up using more energy overall and we have more of them. Our cars get more MPG but we drive more. Our Central heating is more efficient, but our houses are bigger and so on.

They give much of the credit of this to the compact florescent light bulbs. I suspect, but have no evidence for, that the decrease in energy is also due to changes in consumers attitudes and behavior.

Are we on the verge of new trend here?

 

[Arg9]

...I suspect, but have no evidence for, that the decrease in energy is also due to changes in consumers attitudes and behavior.

Are we on the verge of new trend here?

Yeah, I definitely think people are more careful just because most people are financially hurting right now. I don't know for sure, but that would be a guess. I wonder if this takes foreclosures into consideration; homes that are vacant.

 

[portlandatheist]

Yeah, I definitely think people are more careful just because most people are financially hurting right now. I don't know for sure, but that would be a guess. I wonder if this takes foreclosures into consideration; homes that are vacant.

The data is from 2008 and the crisis didn't really hit until October 2008 so I'm sure it had an effect but probably not nearly as big as we'll see for 2009.

 

[madurobob]

In 2008, energy consumption DECREASED in the Pacific Northwest:

Does it really say that? The opening sentence reads:

Improved energy efficiency reduced power demand by an amount equal to about 148,000 homes across the Northwest last year.

I suppose that could mean total energy use decreased. But, couldn't it also mean that improved efficiency reduced total power consumption, offsetting (partially? totally?) other factors like growth that are increasing total energy consumption?

Its great to see conservation having a real impact, but I don't see numbers supporting a total overal decrease in consumption. Admittedly, I haven't looked very hard yet.

 

[macdoc]

Portland is a model city - perhaps the greenest in North America so it would not surprise me,

Overall US industry has done pretty well- California in particular reducing energy intensity.

The recession of course has had a wicked impact.

 

[Ginarley]

I wonder how much of the total decrease was actually due to an efficiency improvement and how much was due to simply not using things (i.e. conservation - turning lights off etc). Conservation can easily have a big impact on consumption (in NZ we saved 10% as part of a one off campaign during a low hydro year) but the jury is still out for efficiency.

 

[macdoc]

Likely both - who cares...

this works well - kids love the stickers

http://www.flickoff.org/

 

[LTC8K6]

How do they know why the power consumption decreased? Maybe electricity just got too expensive?

 

[portlandatheist]

Here is more info:
http://www.nwcouncil.org/energy/rtf/consreport/2008/Default.asp