A reduction in the indirect energy requirement of households

Panel: Panel 4: Human Dimensions

Authors:
Kees Vringer, Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht University
José Potting, Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht University
Kornelis Blok, Department of Science, Technology and Society, Utrecht University
Rixt Kok, Centre for Energy and Environmental Studies, State University of Groningen

Abstract

One way of reducing CO2 emissions is to reduce household energy requirements by changing household consumption patterns. In analysing the effect of such changes, one has to take both direct and indirect energy requirements into account. The total average energy requirement per household in the Netherlands in 1990 was estimated to be 240 GJ, of which 46% was direct (natural gas, electricity, petrol) and 54% was indirect (indirect energy is defined as the energy embodied in consumer goods and services). A strong relation was found between household expenditure and total (direct plus indirect) energy requirement.
The real net income in the western world is expected to rise gradually over the coming decades. This rise is expected to increase the energy consumption of households. This is why it is interesting to examine ways of reducing the indirect energy requirement of households without substantially affecting the development of living standards. Reduction measures can be divided into three groups:

A Choosing a product variant which has a lower energy requirement. The variant costs about the same and has roughly the same function as the average products.

B Choosing a variant which has more of less the same (physical) function but which costs much more and provides greater pleasure and/or comfort.

C Shifting consumption patterns whereby high energy intensive functions are replaced by low energy intensive functions.

An inventory of measures is drawn up for each of the three groups. The effects of these measures are evaluated using a method that is a hybrid of process energy analysis and input-output analysis. Each measure may lead to changes in indirect energy requirement and/or household expenditure.
If all the proposed measures were to be realized, the total indirect energy requirement of an average Dutch household would be reduced by 9% (12 GJ). The indirect energy intensity of household expenditure would decrease from 7,8 MJ/ECU to 5,6 MJ/ECU (-29%). Measures in group A could reduce the indirect energy intensity of household expenditure to 6,9 MJ/ECU (-12%). Measures in group B could reduce the indirect energy intensity by 16% and measures in group C could reduce the indirect energy intensity by 4%. Since these measures could lead to a substantional decrease in the energy requirement of households, further research seems justified. In such research emphasis should be on studying the extent to which the shifts in consumption patterns are feasible and socially acceptable.