Can an historic analysis of consumption patterns of different commodities in the U.S. shed light on the consumption of energy? Can a review of past policies to reduce or change consumption patterns provide insight or guidance in developing new policies for reducing energy use? In order to better understand energy conservation policies, we take a brief look at the history in the US of consumption and curtailment of different commodities, including energy, raw materials, water, beverages and tobacco. Per capita consumption of all of these commodities has fluctuated over the past 100 years. With few exceptions, policies to reduce their consumption, e.g., prohibition, exhortation, regulation, taxation, have had little effect on consumption. Periods of curtailment, e.g., wartime, natural disasters and other shortages, have led to reductions in consumption, which were generally short lived. In some cases, reductions in consumption resulted in less service. In other cases, reduction in consumption led to changes in the services provided. By reviewing the history of consumption and curtailment we identify strategies that have the potential for promoting the long-term conservation of energy.
BT - Proceedings of the C1 -2.1
C2 - LBNL-55011 CY - Pacific Grove, CA DA - 08/2004 LA - eng N2 -Can an historic analysis of consumption patterns of different commodities in the U.S. shed light on the consumption of energy? Can a review of past policies to reduce or change consumption patterns provide insight or guidance in developing new policies for reducing energy use? In order to better understand energy conservation policies, we take a brief look at the history in the US of consumption and curtailment of different commodities, including energy, raw materials, water, beverages and tobacco. Per capita consumption of all of these commodities has fluctuated over the past 100 years. With few exceptions, policies to reduce their consumption, e.g., prohibition, exhortation, regulation, taxation, have had little effect on consumption. Periods of curtailment, e.g., wartime, natural disasters and other shortages, have led to reductions in consumption, which were generally short lived. In some cases, reductions in consumption resulted in less service. In other cases, reduction in consumption led to changes in the services provided. By reviewing the history of consumption and curtailment we identify strategies that have the potential for promoting the long-term conservation of energy.
PB - American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, Washington, DC PP - Pacific Grove, CA PY - 2004 SP - 1 EP - 12 T2 - Proceedings of the T3 - Proceedngs of the 2004 ACEEE Summer Study TI - Changing trends: A brief history of the U.S. household consumption of energy, water, food, beverages and tobacco VL - 10 ER -