EPA/DOE brag on this website that $1 billion a year in energy is saved through Energy Star, freeing up dollars for us to buy other stuff. The Wikipedia entries on Jevon's Paradox and the Khazzoom-Brookes Postulates are worth reading and considering. Energy efficiency is not a moral good, in the way that conservation is. Sometimes it leads to us driving more miles per year in our cars, buying unnecessary solar sidewalk lights, thinking we are making a difference with our Energy Star purchases, when all we are really doing is contributing to more economic growth that spurs more environmental and climate destruction. I would like more information on any intellectually honest discussion of this debate. We must not let this important idea be snuffed out for fear that the certain ideologues will use this theory for the pernicious end of making energy efficiency taboo.
Alexander Lee
Project Laundry List
United States
The Dangers of Behavior Change: The Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate Redux
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Hi Alexander,
Your point regarding energy efficiency being different from conservation is a good one. We are constantly dealing with issues which arise when people confuse energy efficiency with energy savings.
There was a very good study done in the UK on the subject of rebound that you may find interesting. It examines the Khazzoom-Brookes Postulate and basically concludes that this has been overstated but at the same time the rebound effect can be real and should be considered in estimating energy savings.
The Rebound Effect: an assessment of the
evidence for economy-wide energy savings
from improved energy efficiency
A report produced by the Sussex Energy Group for
the Technology and Policy Assessment function of
the UK Energy Research Centre
Steve Sorrell
October 2007
ISBN 1-903144-0-35
Murray Bond
BC Hydro
Canada