IMPROVED ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN THE INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRIES: PAST ACHIEVEMENTS, CO2 EMISSION PROSPECTS

This paper explores the contribution which energy efficiency might make to future reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. Trends in key energy-use sectors and recent changes that may signal a slowdown in the rate of improvement of energy efficiency are examined. One of these sectors is the transportation sector. The study shows that in the transportation sector, energy use in most OECD countries was considerably higher in 1987 than in 1973. Total travel, in passenger-km/capita increased, and the main reason was an increase in the number of cars. Air travel also increased, while rail and bus travel decreased. In contrast to passenger transport, growth in freight was slow. The share of energy intensive truck freight increased in almost every country studied. Therefore improving the efficiency of trucks will be an important step in restraining energy use for freight. Overall the level of passenger travel relative to gross domestic product (GDP) declined in the USA but increased in almost every other country studied. Freight volume relative to GDP fell in almost all industrialized countries. These changes increased the importance of energy for passenger travel relative to that of freight. The energy intensities in transportation behaved in a mixed way. The intensity of air travel fell in each country examined, due to new fuel efficient aircraft. On the road fleet fuel intensities declined very little. (30% in the USA but only 10% elsewhere). For freight trucks, fuel use per kilometre of trucks decreased, but the fuel use per tonne kilometre haulage actually increased. Prospects for increasing energy savings are discussed. (TRRL) (Author/TRRL)

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/03014215
• Corporate Authors:

  Butterworth Scientific Limited

  Journals Division, P.O. Box 63, Westbury House, Bury
  Guildford, Surrey  England  GU2 5BH
• Authors:
  • Schipper, L
• Publication Date: 1991-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 127-37
• Serial:
  • Energy Policy
  • Volume: 19
  • Issue Number: 2
  • Publisher: Butterworth Scientific Limited
  • ISSN: 0301-4215

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automobiles; Energy conservation; Freight transportation; Fuel consumption; Public transit; Statistics; Trucks
• Uncontrolled Terms: Energy efficiency
• Geographic Terms: Europe
• Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Energy; Environment; Freight Transportation; Highways; Motor Carriers; Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00623730
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport and Road Research Laboratory (TRRL)
• Files: ITRD, TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 31 1992 12:00AM