@article{35052, keywords = {Energy efficiency, Energy intensity, Efficiency policy, Energy efficiency gap, Public policy}, author = {Harry D Saunders and Joyashree Roy and Inês M.L Azevedo and Debalina Chakravarty and Shyamasree Dasgupta and Stephane de la Rue du Can and Angela Druckman and Roger Fouquet and Michael Grubb and Boqiang Lin and Robert Lowe and Reinhard Madlener and Daire M McCoy and Luis Mundaca and Tadj Oreszczyn and Steven Sorrell and David Stern and Kanako Tanaka and Taoyuan Wei}, title = {Energy Efficiency: What Has Research Delivered in the Last 40 Years?}, abstract = {

This article presents a critical assessment of 40 years of research that may be brought under the umbrella of energy efficiency, spanning different aggregations and domains—from individual producing and consuming agents to economy-wide effects to the role of innovation to the influence
of policy. After 40 years of research, energy efficiency initiatives are generally perceived as highly effective. Innovation has contributed to lowering energy technology costs and increasing energy productivity. Energy efficiency programs in many cases have reduced energy use per unit of economic output and have been associated with net improvements in welfare, emission reductions, or both. Rebound effects at the macro level still warrant careful policy attention, as they may be nontrivial. Complexity of energy efficiency dynamics calls for further methodological and empirical advances, multidisciplinary approaches, and granular data at the service level for research in this field to be of greatest societal benefit.

}, year = {2021}, journal = {Annual Review of Environment and Resources}, volume = {46}, month = {10/2021}, url = {https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-084937}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-environ-012320-084937}, language = {eng}, }