America's Energy Future

America's Energy Future

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2009-12-15

Total Pages: 737

ISBN-13: 0309149096

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For multi-user PDF licensing, please contact customer service. Energy touches our lives in countless ways and its costs are felt when we fill up at the gas pump, pay our home heating bills, and keep businesses both large and small running. There are long-term costs as well: to the environment, as natural resources are depleted and pollution contributes to global climate change, and to national security and independence, as many of the world's current energy sources are increasingly concentrated in geopolitically unstable regions. The country's challenge is to develop an energy portfolio that addresses these concerns while still providing sufficient, affordable energy reserves for the nation. The United States has enormous resources to put behind solutions to this energy challenge; the dilemma is to identify which solutions are the right ones. Before deciding which energy technologies to develop, and on what timeline, we need to understand them better. America's Energy Future analyzes the potential of a wide range of technologies for generation, distribution, and conservation of energy. This book considers technologies to increase energy efficiency, coal-fired power generation, nuclear power, renewable energy, oil and natural gas, and alternative transportation fuels. It offers a detailed assessment of the associated impacts and projected costs of implementing each technology and categorizes them into three time frames for implementation.


Innovations in Home Energy Use

Innovations in Home Energy Use

Author: BRIAN G. SOUTHWELL

Publisher: RTI Press

Published: 2016-01-03

Total Pages: 209

ISBN-13: 1934831158

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As a collection of essays that explore innovations to encourage reduction in homeowner energy use, this volume reflects a confluence of ideas and initiatives rather than a narrow look at what a single, particular line of academic literature suggests might be possible to shape homeowner behavior. Not only do the contributors represent a wide array of institutions and backgrounds, but the very intellectual infrastructure that encouraged and allowed the summit that inspired this book itself represents a conscious effort to facilitate multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaboration for the purpose of addressing salient societal concerns. With this volume, we hope to provide a source of ideas for behavior change that will appeal to a range of people charged with curbing residential energy use through communication-based intervention.


District Heating and Cooling Networks in the European Union

District Heating and Cooling Networks in the European Union

Author: Antonio Colmenar-Santos

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2017-07-18

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 3319579525

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This book evaluates the potential of the combined use of district heating networks and cogeneration in the European Union (EU). It also proposes measures to remove barriers hindering their widespread implementation, formulates policies for their implementation, and evaluates their economic, energy, and environmental consequences. The book presents a preliminary assessment of the likely cost and the impact of widespread adoption of district heating networks and cogeneration carried out in three cities that represent the variety of climatic conditions in the EU. Based on this assessment, it is estimated that by undertaking the maximum economically feasible implementation across the EU, fuel savings of €95M/year would be achieved, representing energy savings of 6,400 petajoules (PJ), which is around 15% of the total final energy consumption in the EU in 2013 (46,214.5 PJ). Using simple and quick calculations and not specific software, the method used allows the evaluation of the potential benefits of retrofitting existing power plants into cogeneration plants and connecting them to nearby heating networks. In light of increasing energy costs and environmental concerns, the book is of interest to heating engineers, city planners, and policy-makers around the globe.


Our Nation of Builders

Our Nation of Builders

Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Energy and Commerce. Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade

Publisher:

Published: 2015

Total Pages: 176

ISBN-13:

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Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States

Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2010-06-10

Total Pages: 349

ISBN-13: 0309156866

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America's economy and lifestyles have been shaped by the low prices and availability of energy. In the last decade, however, the prices of oil, natural gas, and coal have increased dramatically, leaving consumers and the industrial and service sectors looking for ways to reduce energy use. To achieve greater energy efficiency, we need technology, more informed consumers and producers, and investments in more energy-efficient industrial processes, businesses, residences, and transportation. As part of the America's Energy Future project, Real Prospects for Energy Efficiency in the United States examines the potential for reducing energy demand through improving efficiency by using existing technologies, technologies developed but not yet utilized widely, and prospective technologies. The book evaluates technologies based on their estimated times to initial commercial deployment, and provides an analysis of costs, barriers, and research needs. This quantitative characterization of technologies will guide policy makers toward planning the future of energy use in America. This book will also have much to offer to industry leaders, investors, environmentalists, and others looking for a practical diagnosis of energy efficiency possibilities.


Energy Efficiency

Energy Efficiency

Author: Ming Yang

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2015-02-21

Total Pages: 200

ISBN-13: 1447166663

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This book discusses how energy efficiency benefits the global environment, national energy security, local pollution mitigation, natural resource conservation, and utility bill reduction. In addition, this book provides many hands-on skills and knowledge to identify and develop energy efficiency projects. The literature review shows that energy efficiency has become the first fuel in the world energy supply. With empirical analyses, this book indicates that without continued investment in energy efficiency, neither China nor the U.S. could achieve their carbon emission reduction targets that were announced on November 13, 2014 during the Beijing 2014 APEC meeting. The authors argue that energy efficiency will become the first tool to mitigate climate change. These include (1) identifying energy efficiency barriers, (2) developing energy policies, (3) investing in energy efficient technologies, (4) undertaking project cost-effectiveness analysis, (5) de-risking and financing energy efficiency projects; (6) developing and managing energy service companies, and (7) promoting urban transport efficiency. Two case studies in energy efficiency improvement in electrical motors and industrial boilers are also presented. This book is written for college and university students, practitioners, researchers, consultants, project developers, and policy makers who want to dedicate their professional careers in global energy efficiency improvement, climate change mitigation, local clean air initiatives, and energy bill reduction.


Financing Energy Efficiency

Financing Energy Efficiency

Author: Robert P. Taylor

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2008-02-08

Total Pages: 306

ISBN-13: 0821373056

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While energy efficiency projects could partly meet new energy demand more cheaply than new supplies, weak economic institutions in developing and transitional economies impede developing and financing energy efficiency retrofits. This book analyzes these difficulties, suggests a 3-part model for projectizing and financing energy efficiency retrofits, and presents thirteen case studies to illustrate the issues and principles involved.