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Energy Conservation

Using less energy today can save money and improve the quality of the environment for future generations. RAND has informed public awareness and policy with research on such topics as energy use in commercial buildings, household energy conservation, the conflict between energy conservation and productivity in schools and offices, and the potential to reduce the energy requirements of U.S. commercial airlines.

Report
Beneficial Collaboration Between Army Installations and Energy Utility Companies
U.S. Army installation energy costs around the globe totaled more than $1.2 billion in 2010. Collaborating with energy utility companies could help the Army to decrease energy usage, lower costs, and meet legislative mandates. The benefits for utility companies include energy conservation and support for renewable energy technologies.
Oct 26, 2011
Journal Article
Valuation of Plug-In Vehicle Life-Cycle Air Emissions and Oil Displacement Benefits
To reduce air emission and oil dependency impacts from passenger vehicles, strategies to promote adoption of hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) and plug-in hybrid-electric vehicles with small battery packs offer more social benefits per dollar spent.
Oct 1, 2011
Report
How Much Are People Willing to Pay to Reduce Carbon Emissions?
To combat climate change, the British government has thus far valued the cost of carbon emissions based on how much people should pay, rather than how much they are willing to pay, or the value they place on carbon emissions reduction. An analysis of a series of RAND Europe studies suggests there is an opportunity for a large consumer surplus — a social benefit — by introducing a carbon tax to pay for the damages caused by carbon emissions.
Feb 23, 2011
Dissertation
Managing Residential Energy Demand Through Provision of Better Feedback
Examines the potential for better feedback on electricity usage to reduce household energy consumption.
Feb 2, 2011
Multimedia
Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning from the European Union and Australia
In this April 12, 2010, Congressional Briefing, Ambassador Charles Ries discusses lessons the United States could learn from the experiences of the European Union and Australia in driving energy efficiency in the building sector.
Apr 12, 2010
Multimedia
Green Buildings, Green Jobs
In this podcast, Ambassador Charles Ries describes how Europe and Australia have used innovative policies to provide information on energy consumption by buildings to promote energy efficiency and discuss lessons the U.S. can learn from these efforts. Ries also discusses the effects of these policies on jobs in the building industry.
Feb 17, 2010
News Release
Study Funded by Nazarian Family Foundation Analyzes Risks, Benefits to Israel of Increasing Reliance on Natural Gas
Israel can make natural gas usage a bigger part of its energy portfolio without jeopardizing its security, but even more importantly, the nation needs to make conservation measures a priority in its future energy plans.
Dec 20, 2009
Report
Natural Gas and Israel's Energy Future
Israel can make natural gas usage a bigger part of its energy portfolio without jeopardizing its security, but even more importantly, the nation needs to make conservation measures a priority in its future energy plans.
Dec 15, 2009
Commentary
Green Buildings, Jobs and Summits
If the United States is to be a global competitor in green building technology, it needs to learn from some of the countries that are at the table in Pittsburgh this week, writes Charles Ries.
Sep 25, 2009
News Release
Building Energy Efficiency Programs in Europe and Australia Offer Important Lessons for the United States
The United States can become more energy efficient and create more "green" jobs by adopting some of the strategies used by the European Union and Australia to rate and disclose the performance of commercial and government-owned buildings.
Sep 21, 2009
Report
Improving the Energy Performance of Buildings: Learning from Australia and the European Union
The United States can become more energy efficient and create more
Sep 4, 2009
Commentary
Grab Vital Habitat Now: How Riverside County Can Step Up Conservation While Land Prices Are Down
The economic slowdown threatens to put a crimp in ambitious efforts to balance preservation, transportation improvements and development in western Riverside County. It doesn't have to. Actually, it presents an opportunity, writes Lloyd Dixon.
Dec 1, 2008
News Release
Western Riverside County Habitat Conservation Plan Progressing, but Needs Fine-Tuning
Western Riverside County's Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan -- a sweeping effort to protect endangered and threatened species while accelerating the approval of transportation improvements -- has made significant progress, but needs modifying to reach its goals in Southern California's changing economy.
Nov 3, 2008
Report
Western Riverside County Habitat Conservation Plan Progressing, but Needs Fine-Tuning
Western Riverside County's Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan—a sweeping effort to protect endangered and threatened species while accelerating the approval of transportation improvements—has made significant progress, but needs modifying to reach its goals in Southern California's changing economy.
Oct 18, 2008
News Release
Major Progress in Technology Needed for 25 Percent Renewable Energy Use to Be Affordable
Dramatic progress in renewable energy technology is needed if the United States desires to produce 25 percent of its electricity and motor vehicle fuel from renewable sources by 2025 without significantly increasing consumer costs.
Jun 24, 2008
Report
Estimating the Value of Water-Use Efficiency in the Intermountain West
Evaluating the cost-effectiveness of water-efficiency programs can be difficult, because not all the benefits are easily quantified. An economic framework based on two tools from the California Urban Water Conservation Council helps estimate the avoided costs and environmental benefits of increasing water-use efficiency.
Jan 4, 2008
Research Brief
A New Tool Can Help Commercial-Building Owners Make Better Water-Efficiency Decisions
This fact sheet describes a case study of commercial-building water efficiency and the Building Water Efficiency Analysis Model used to conduct it. The model allows convenient assessment of potential value of water-efficiency investments.
Oct 21, 2007
Report
Building Water Efficiency Analysis Model (BEAM)
To help building owners make better water-efficiency decisions, this model allows convenient assessment of potential value of water-efficiency investments.
Oct 12, 2007
Dissertation
Agrarian Households in Semi-Arid Tropics: Evaluating Policy Options
This paper identifies which interventions succeed most in preserving smallholders' household wealth. The livestock intervention is the most cost-effective one, and the employment guarantee scheme provides substantial asset protection.
May 24, 2007
News Release
RAND Says Further Study Warranted on Save the World Air Technology
May 3, 2007 news release: RAND Says Further Study Warranted on Save the World Air Technology.
May 3, 2007

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RAND Topic:
Energy Conservation

Topic Synonyms:
Energy Efficiency

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