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Energy Efficiency and The Greenhouse Effect

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  • L.G. Brookes

Abstract

Much attention has been attracted by the paper of Keepin and Katz (1988) which claimed that for limiting greenhouse gas build-up it was several times more cost-effective to invest in energy efficency measures than in nuclear power. The author of this reply claims that not only were the claims on behalf of energy efficiency faulty in detail, they were also unsound in principle: it has been known for at least 125 years that more efficient energy use is associated with increases in total and per capita energy consumption, not decreases. The present paper discusses relevant published work and attempts to explain the economic processes involved.

Suggested Citation

  • L.G. Brookes, 1990. "Energy Efficiency and The Greenhouse Effect," Energy & Environment, , vol. 1(4), pages 318-333, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:engenv:v:1:y:1990:i:4:p:318-333
    DOI: 10.1177/0958305X9000100403
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Brookes, Len, 1990. "The greenhouse effect: the fallacies in the energy efficiency solution," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 199-201, March.
    2. Dale W. Jorgenson, 1984. "The Role of Energy in Productivity Growth," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 11-26.
    3. Dale W. Jorgenson, 1986. "The Great Transition: Energy and Economic Change," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 1-13.
    4. Keepin, Bill & Kats, Gregory, 1988. "Greenhouse warming : Comparative analysis of nuclear and efficiency abatement strategies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 16(6), pages 538-561, December.
    5. Sam H. Schurr, 1982. "Energy Efficiency and Productive Efficiency: Some Thoughts Based on American Experience," The Energy Journal, International Association for Energy Economics, vol. 0(Number 3), pages 3-14.
    6. Barbier, Edward B. & Pearce, David W., 1990. "Thinking economically about climate change," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 18(1), pages 11-18.
    7. Jones, P. M. S., 1989. "Greenhouse warming -- A comment," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 17(6), pages 613-614, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. STEPHEN J. DeCANIO, 1997. "Economic Modeling And The False Tradeoff Between Environmental Protection And Economic Growth," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 15(4), pages 10-27, October.
    2. Brookes, Leonard, 2000. "Energy efficiency fallacies revisited," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(6-7), pages 355-366, June.
    3. Saunders, Harry D., 2014. "Toward a neoclassical theory of sustainable consumption: Eight golden age propositions," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 220-232.
    4. Khademvatani, Asgar & Gordon, Daniel V., 2013. "A marginal measure of energy efficiency: The shadow value," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 38(C), pages 153-159.
    5. Anker-Nilssen, Per, 2003. "Household energy use and the environment--a conflicting issue," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 76(1-3), pages 189-196, September.
    6. Skip Laitner, John A., 2000. "Energy efficiency: rebounding to a sound analytical perspective," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 28(6-7), pages 471-475, June.
    7. Shao, Shuai & Guo, Longfei & Yu, Mingliang & Yang, Lili & Guan, Dabo, 2019. "Does the rebound effect matter in energy import-dependent mega-cities? Evidence from Shanghai (China)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C), pages 212-228.
    8. Sorrell, Steve, 2009. "Jevons' Paradox revisited: The evidence for backfire from improved energy efficiency," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(4), pages 1456-1469, April.
    9. Saunders, Harry D., 2008. "Fuel conserving (and using) production functions," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 30(5), pages 2184-2235, September.

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