Myth: The United States Lags in Energy Efficiency

Angelica Moore

Even Congress fell for this myth and in 2007 passed the Energy Independence and Security Act

This bill was 310 pages and the word “efficiency” appeared 331 times and the word “efficient” appeared 111 times.

The United States is reducing its carbon intensity because it continues to become more efficient in how it uses energy

Carbon intensity• The amount of carbon dioxide per unit of economic output,

measured in metric tons of carbon dioxide per $1,000 of GDP

The Facts

China UK France USA Canada Brazil

-70.00%

-60.00%

-50.00%

-40.00%

-30.00%

-20.00%

-10.00%

0.00%

10.00%

20.00%

Change in Carbon Intensity of Major World Economies, 1980 to 2006

Fell by 42 Percent!

Energy Intensity• The amount of energy needed to produce $1 of gross domestic

product

USA UK China Sweden Brazil

-80.00%

-60.00%

-40.00%

-20.00%

0.00%

20.00%

40.00%

Change in Energy Intensity of Major World Economies, 1980 to 2006

Current Trends

Why is this happening?

1) America’s heavy labor has moved overseas.

2) We are making products that are more efficient.

The problem• We do see a problem though. “Increasing efficiency merely

paves the way for greater energy consumption”.

• This means that energy efficiency should still be pursued but it will not be the answer to our increasing need for energy.

Summary• “Over the past three decades or so, the United States has

been as good as or better then nearly every other developed country on Earth at improving its energy efficiency”.

Questions?• 1. By what percentage did the US’s Carbon Intensity Fall from

1980-2006?• 2. What was one cause for the change in energy and carbon

intensity?