Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Environmental Science & Technology
Publication Date
7-2010
ISSN
0013-5851
Page Number
4847
Keywords
energy, carbon emissions, financial incentives
Disciplines
Environmental Law | Law
Abstract
The goal, articulated by President Obama in 2009, of reducing U.S. carbon emissions 17% from the 2005 level by 2020 iseminently achievable without new technology or appreciable sacrifice by energy users. However, achieving it will in part require sophisticated energy efficiency and conservation programs. To overcome institutional and behavioral barriers, these programs will need to implement six principles of effective design derived from 30 years of behavioral and social science research. We focus on the household sector, but believe our general conclusions likely apply to other sectors as well.
We recently developed an analysis for the household sector--energy use in homes and for nonbusiness travel--of what we call Reasonably Achievable Emissions Reductions (RAER). RAER is distinct from technical potential and from economic potential--what would be achieved if all households took all energy saving actions that have positive net present value at a discount rate similar to what an investment portfolio might provide by behavioral realism. Neither the full technical potential nor the full economically justifiable potential for energy savings has ever been achieved in practice. RAER is what could be achieved by implementing the most effective known inducements to action.
Recommended Citation
Michael P. Vandenbergh, Paul C. Stern, Gerald T. Gardner, Thomas Dietz, and Jonathan M. Gilligan,
Design Principles for Carbon Emissions Reduction Programs, 44 Environmental Science & Technology. 4847
(2010)
Available at: https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/faculty-publications/1512