From energy efficiency to efficiency of consumption?

Harald Throne-Holst, SIFO

Keywords

energy efficiency, efficiency of consumption, household dynamics, households, rebound effect

Abstract

In the debate on reducing the consumption of energy, the main focus tends to be on the (technological) energy efficiency of devices and appliances. In this, the everyday life surroundings' and contexts' influence on the final or actual energy use often seem to be neglected. The important issue should not be the mechanically derived energy efficiency of appliances, but the resulting, "actual" energy efficiency. It is perfectly possible to use an energy efficient appliance in an inefficient way: Better efficiency is fine, but as a means and not an end. Economists describe and explain the discrepancy between the potential and actual energy savings with the term "the rebound effect". Is this appropriate and useful in a change perspective? What would be the main determinants of the households' final efficiency of consumption? A renewed focus on the framework, limitations and possibilities everyday life put on the households' energy use is vital for any policy aiming to achieve reductions in the households' energy use. We propose the term efficiency of consumption to address this rather neglected but crucial factor – truly a result of the dynamics of consumption. Regarding the dynamics of consumption, it remains an open question whether it drives or is driven by the development of modern societies.