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A recent report by the Rocky Mountain Institute states that the U.S. electricity demand could drop by 34 percent if the most inefficient states caught up with the most efficient ones.
Much of what we cover here at EcoGeek has to do with efficiency improvements because reducing energy use really seems to be the ultimate goal, but it's interesting to see just how much energy could be saved by upping efficiency. The report concludes that if the 40 under-performing states made improvements that put them on par with the 10 most efficient, 1.2 million gigawatt-hours would be saved every year. This amounts to 62% of the country's coal-fired electric power.
States like California and New York were recognized as the most efficient with almost twice the GDP per kWh than the national average. While that presents a large gap, the report argues that the necessary efficiency improvements will be fairly easy and could be made by 2020.
The institute plans to release two more reports over the next few months detailing how states and utilities can close the efficiency gap, including policy changes and practical implementation. If you'd like to read the full report titled Assessing the Electric Productivity Gap and the US Efficiency Opportunity, click here (PDF).
via Business Green
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written by Eric, February 19, 2009
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written by Bob Wallace, February 19, 2009
We here in CA make stuff just like other places. And just like other parts of the country we're spread around.
The difference is, long ago we made it attractive (financially) for utility companies to work at conservation.
Take a look at how we did it and get modernized. Wasting energy is so last century....
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written by Joseph, February 19, 2009
Please study energy terminology prior to writing an article on the subject.
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written by Carl, February 19, 2009
Even California has huge opportunities still available to cut demand and shift use to off-peak. Electronics is in general horribly wasteful of power because there are no labeling requirements, so buyers can't choose better/cheaper products.
When there is cheap coal electricity, people use electric heat and hot water. Micropower, cogeneration, and waste heat energy recovery are future alternatives. Use a fuel cell to sell electricity to the grid, and the waste heat to heat water as needed, for example.
Negawatts (as RMI says) is the fastest cheapest power available-- far better than nuclear, solar, wind, or even coal.
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written by Jess Bart-Williams, February 19, 2009
I want to thank you for your dedication and service. I have been reading your site for over a year (maybe two), and regardless of simple mistakes here and there that never seem to impact the overarching lesson of each article, I have found EcoGeek to be indispensable. In fact, I dare say it is the best site I have ever read with regard to educating someone like me on green issues and technology.
Though I subscribe to other sites as well, I can count on EcoGeek to inform, entertain and educate me in a way that makes me feel like I am part of something very important (and not all that complicated). I wonder how much further we would have gotten by now if all scientists were as interested in educating simple people like me in a way that empowers me to change my ways. After all, they always seem to carve out just enough time from their busy schedules to put you down.
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written by EV, February 19, 2009
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I don't doubt that part of California's rank is due to the higher cost of power. However, until we can disaggregate the score, we won't be able to tell who's just a slacker, and who's just dealing in heavy industries.