Energy Efficiency Around the World

In preparation for our upcoming conference, Energy Efficiency: The Next Generation, we Cubbies have been doing a lot of research on energy efficiency. As we have mentioned in the past, Oregon is a national leader on energy efficiency and the Pacific Northwest is at a turning point in our energy future. While there is a lot to learn at the local level, it’s also important that we understand what is happening around the globe as we plan for a sustainable energy future in Oregon.

Here are some of our key findings from the global energy efficiency stage:

Just last month the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released an international score card that rates developed countries on their energy efficiency performance and policies. The United Kingdom ranked first, with Germany, Italy, and Japan following close behind. The United States came in 9th, scoring below both China and Australia and only grading better than Brazil, Canada, and Russia. The only area where the United States showed leadership was in Commercial Buildings, where we tied the UK for fourth. A deeper look into initiatives in the leading countries can provide great examples of what we could be doing in our region and country to advance energy efficiency in the residential, industrial, and agricultural sectors, among others.

In the UK, officials have stressed that energy efficiency in the transportation sector specifically miles per gallon (MPG) standards and vehicle miles traveled (VMT)—is a major reason why they are a leader in energy efficiency, especially in relation to the US. Throughout the European Union, the specific CO2 emission level of new cars has decreased by 25% on average since 1995, according to a comprehensive report looking at energy efficiency trends in transportation in the EU. The ACEEE has strong recommendations for the US in terms of policy measures that could enhance the efficiency of our transportation sector, but they depend greatly on the political landscape and the ability to set national energy savings targets. The Obama administration and 13 major automakers agreed last year on a 54.5 mpg Corporate Automobile Fuel Efficiency (CAFE) standard by 2025. Many experts stress this would reduce C02 emissions from our transportation sector and lead to savings for consumers, but this agreement is under much political scrutiny.

CUB’s Organizing Director, Jeff Bissonnette, took part in a Climate and Energy Study Tour in Germany last year. The trip was sponsored by the American Council on Germany and provided participants—including representatives from business, government, and advocacy groups—with briefings from German government officials and scholars on national clean energy efforts. Two key points stood out in all the briefings: it was apparent that there was a national commitment to clean energy, both from efficiency measures and renewable resources across the political spectrum, and Germany’s energy policy is closely aligned with their strong climate policy. In fact, Germany is funding most energy efficiency programs by revenue generated from a carbon trading system.

Even China, which has received a lot of negative press lately for the heavy use of coal power without pollution regulations, outscored the US in energy efficiency. China is priming itself to be an international clean energy leader and this August estimated that it will invest $373 billion over the next five years on energy efficiency and conservation. The announcement has led to a dramatic rise in shares in the environmental protection industry. The International Monetary Fund recommended national spending on energy savings in China as a way to balance the decrease in exports to the EU due to the debt crisis. Considering China has made one of the largest contributions to the increase in CO2 emissions globally, according to the International Energy Agency, it’s encouraging to see a strong national dedication to expanding their clean energy economy.

Even though the US had a low ranking, there is a lot of hope for energy efficiency and CO2 emission reduction across the country. According to the US Energy Information Administration, energy-related CO2 emissions were the lowest since 1992 in the first quarter of 2012. Also of note, the US Department of Defense is partnering with the Department of Interior to invest in renewable energy projects on public lands. The US military has long been the largest purchaser of renewable energy and many of its leaders have spoken out regarding the need to address our dependence on foreign oil and the impacts of climate change on our country’s national security.

Here in Oregon, we want to continue to lead the country in energy efficiency investments and policies. Through CUB’s many efforts around climate change and the transition from coal, electric vehicle outreach and smart grid development, and energy efficiency and renewables, we are taking a strong posture towards developing thoughtful and responsible energy policy. It is a unique role we play in Oregon as a national leader to be a model for other states and nationally. To tackle some of these issues through an energy efficiency lens, CUB is hosting our 2nd annual policy conference, Energy Efficiency: The Next Generation. Please join us as we continue this discussion at this pivotal time in history. For a list of International Energy Efficiency Initiatives in Brazil, China, India, Mexico and Russia, visit the International Partnership for Energy Efficiency Cooperation’s website.

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