Online Archive

Speakers

Prof. Dr. Reinhard Madlener, Institute for Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN), RWTH Aachen University

Leadership of diskussion

Prof. Dr. Andreas Züttel

Content

Energy efficiency is a key element of many energy and environmental policies, and often praised as a ‘no regret’ option. Despite both autonomous and forced energy efficiency improvements, however, in most countries overall energy consumption has not decreased in absolute terms. ‘Rebound’ is a measure of the behavioral response to energy efficiency improvements. Over the last 30 years, numerous studies on the theoretical reasoning and empirical evidence of rebound effects have emerged, mostly for developed countries. Since the 1990s, the rebound debate has gained additional momentum in the context of global warming, as energy efficiency increases are considered by many as a seemingly inexpensive way to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions. Depending on the size of the rebound effect, however, the benefits from energy demand savings due to technical efficiency improvements are taken back through increases in demand (if rebound is > 1, energy efficiency policies alone would be even counterproductive!). For well-informed policy-making, there is a need for more empirical evidence of the magnitude of the rebound effect in various regions and sectors.

 

The language of the presentation is English.
Free entrance, guests are welcome

Vortragssprache: Englisch

 

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