America's GDP is bigger than in 2012. Our population is larger. But our energy usage is down.
www.bcse.org/factbook/pdfs/BCSE_BNEF_Sustainable_Energy_in_America_2013_Factbook_Executive%20Summary.pdf.
In fact, America's total energy usage fell 6.4% from 2007 to 2012. The battleship of energy usage has turned direction from heading higher nearly every year to falling.
Vehicles, buildings, appliances, lighting, and consumer behavior are all becoming more energy efficient. These changes are structural. They are deepening, spreading. One consequence of the shrinking energy pie is intense competition between energy supply sources for sales. And declining use and the resulting intense competition for sales is a major reason why electricity and natural gas prices over the last 5 years have been so affordable for consumers.
While I'm sure the switch to hybrid cars and solar and efficient appliances and light bulbs help, I'm willing to bet that "Cash for Clunkers" had a bigger impact than most people realize.
ReplyDeleteIf we measured fuel efficiency in "gallons per mile" instead of "miles per gallon", people would see more easily that switching from 18 mpg to 27mpg saves as much total gas as going from 27mpg to 54mpg.