Hanley, N. D. , McGregor, P. G., Swales, J. K. and Turner, K. (2006) The impact of a stimulus to energy efficiency on the economy and the environment: A regional computable general equilibrium analysis. Renewable Energy, 31(2), pp. 161-171. (doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2005.08.023)
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Abstract
Sustainable development is a key objective of UK national and regional policies. Improvements in resource productivity have been suggested as both a measure of progress towards sustainable development and as a means of achieving sustainability. Making ‘more with less’ intuitively seems to be good for the environment, and this is the presumption of current UK policy. However, in a system-wide context, improvements in energy efficiency lower the cost of energy in efficiency units and may even stimulate the consumption and production of energy measured in physical units, and increase pollution. Simulations of a computable general equilibrium model of Scotland suggest that an across the board stimulus to energy efficiency there would actually stimulate energy production and consumption and lead to a deterioration in environmental indicators. The implication is that policies directed at stimulating energy efficiency are not, in themselves, sufficient to secure environmental improvements: this may require the use of complementary energy policies designed to moderate incentives to increased energy consumption.
| Item Type: | Articles |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | The research reported here was initially funded by the Scottish Economic Policy Network (Scotecon award 500104) and the ESRC under the grant (No. R000 22 3869) ‘Modelling the Impact of ‘Sustainability’ Policies in Scotland’. The research was completed while the last three named authors were in receipt of the support of EPSRC, through the SUPERGEN Marine Energy Consortium. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Hanley, Professor Nicholas |
| Authors: | Hanley, N. D., McGregor, P. G., Swales, J. K., and Turner, K. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine |
| Journal Name: | Renewable Energy |
| Publisher: | Elsevier |
| ISSN: | 0960-1481 |
| ISSN (Online): | 1879-0682 |
| Published Online: | 06 October 2005 |
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