Areas of Focus / Research Topic

Energy Efficiency

Determining the energy efficiency of a house by detecting heat loss with infrared thermal cameraEnergy efficiency programs have the potential to play a major role in slowing the growth of global carbon emissions. Yet, it is becoming increasingly clear among the research community that the predicted savings from these programs do not always bear out in practice, a phenomenon often referred to as the “energy efficiency gap.” As a result, some programs may not be delivering as promised.

EPIC scholars are evaluating the effectiveness of energy efficiency programs in general and the causes of the “gap” in particular. For example, in one study they found that the costs to deploy efficiency upgrades were about double the energy savings. Their research is uncovering opportunities to improve the programs to make such investments generate higher environmental benefits at a lower cost. One study suggests that subsidies for energy efficiency investments should be better targeted towards investments that will deliver the greatest cuts in pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, EPIC research explore the effects of peer influence and monetary incentives on household energy consumption and behaviors.

Our U.S. Climate & Energy Roadmap provides recommendations on how to make energy efficiency work in a cost-effective manner. The recommendations suggest that funding should be allocated to the programs that are most cost-effective based on independent and rigorous real-world evaluations.

Associated Scholars

EPIC Scholar

Fiona Burlig

Assistant Professor, Harris School of Public Policy
Visiting & Non-Resident Scholars

Steve Cicala

Associate Professor of Economics, Tufts University; Non-Resident Scholar, EPIC
Scholar

Michael Greenstone

Founding Director, Institute for Climate and Sustainable Growth; Director, EPIC
EPIC Scholar

Koichiro Ito

Professor, Harris School of Public Policy
EPIC Scholar

Robert Rosner

William E. Wrather Distinguished Service Professor in the departments of Astronomy & Astrophysics and Physics; Founding Co-Director, EPIC
Visiting & Non-Resident Scholars

Anant Sudarshan

Faculty Member, Department of Economics at the University of Warwick; Non-Resident Scholar, EPIC
EPIC Scholar

Kim Wolske

Research Associate Professor, Harris School of Public Policy