Barriers to the adoption of an energy efficient technology

During this time there has been much debate on the relevance of thermodynamics to economics, and many attempts to build bridges between the two. There has also been much confusion as to what the laws of thermodynamics actually say. This article clearly explains heat, work, and the thermodynamic laws, the meaning of entropy, and the importance of kinetics as a barrier to thermodynamically favorable processes. The two most important misunderstandings in the literature, namely entropy as disorder, and entropy as a measure of information, are highlighted. Reviewing the literature shows that thermodynamics is most relevant for building a descriptive model, or preanalytic vision of economics, because it implies physical constraints on production and consumption. Similarly, it suggests that there may be serious flaws with neoclassical economic models, and in particular the primacy of sustained growth. However, thermodynamics does not seem to aid mathematical modeling in economics, nor does it provide normative insights. As an aid to energy policy, thermodynamics is useful for assessing the feasibility of technology optionsthose that have the potential to meet our goals, and should be counted as options, and those that should not. But it does not provide a prescription outside of this technical realm. Factors, such as environmental impact, cost, and social acceptability, will ultimately determine which technically feasible options are most desirable.

Choice Reviews Online, 2002

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 2010

Almost 40 years have passed since Georgescu-Roegen's seminal work, The Entropy Law and the Economic Process. During this time there has been much debate on the relevance of thermodynamics to economics, and many attempts to build bridges between the two. There has also been much confusion as to what the laws of thermodynamics actually say. This article clearly explains heat, work, and the thermodynamic laws, the meaning of entropy, and the importance of kinetics as a barrier to thermodynamically favorable processes. The two most important misunderstandings in the literature, namely entropy as disorder, and entropy as a measure of information, are highlighted. Reviewing the literature shows that thermodynamics is most relevant for building a descriptive model, or preanalytic vision of economics, because it implies physical constraints on production and consumption. Similarly, it suggests that there may be serious flaws with neoclassical economic models, and in particular the primacy of sustained growth. However, thermodynamics does not seem to aid mathematical modeling in economics, nor does it provide normative insights. As an aid to energy policy, thermodynamics is useful for assessing the feasibility of technology optionsthose that have the potential to meet our goals, and should be counted as options, and those that should not. But it does not provide a prescription outside of this technical realm. Factors, such as environmental impact, cost, and social acceptability, will ultimately determine which technically feasible options are most desirable.

Electronic Green Journal, 2004

Energy Policy

The potential of energy conservation is considerable, yet the technically feasible and economically viable measures which could be taken are by no means fully exhausted. This phenomenon is called 'efficiency gap' or 'energy paradox' and generally described in terms of institutional, market-related, organisational and behavioural barriers. The barrier approach may help decision-makers to overcome obstacles, but it tends to limit energy conservation to positive actions and favours technical solutions. Nevertheless, barrier models give an insight to the technical and social aspects of energy consumption and how they are intertwined.

Real-World Economics Review, 2019

For over half a century, progress in non-equilibrium thermodynamics, in particular with the emergence of the theory of dissipative structures, has inevitable implications for the self-organization of human societies and biodiversity whose losses affect directly subsistence and daily life. Seen from this angle, the thermodynamics of human societies resulting from that of living organisms, developed at the end of nineteenth century, suggests a likely collapse of societies that dissipate the most energy. In the unbalanced pursuit of economic growth, for the sake of competitiveness, economists and energy engineers must take into account this risk seriously before the situation becomes more critical. This awareness, resulting from the study of complex non-linear systems, can help build better energy solutions based on the energy efficiency and renewable energies, which must replace progressively fossil fuels to keep to a minimum their use.

Energy Efficiency [Working Title], 2022

The objective of this chapter is to draw the attention of government policy makers internationally to a strategy for alleviating global warming through proven cost-effective energy efficiency measures. The Saudi Arabian government has embraced the approach with demonstrable success over the past 20 years, with rates of return on investments averaging more than 25%. Even though Saudi Aramco is the National Oil and Gas company, the company takes the threat of climate change to the world’s economies very seriously and initiated programs for, systematically and responsibly, transition to less-polluting energy sources. Primarily, the chapter will define the supply chain components of Saudi Arabia’s energy sector and explain the existing conditions and efficiencies of each of its components. It analyzes the existing energy management framework and its achievements, as well as its current and forthcoming commitments, status, and updates. It will also explain the vital equipment, systems, a...

2013

Sustainability, 2019

Together with increased shares of renewable energy supply, improved energy efficiency is the foremost means of mitigating climate change. However, the energy efficiency potential is far from being realized, which is commonly explained by the existence of various barriers to energy efficiency. Initially mentioned by Churchman, the term “wicked problems” became established in the 1970s, meaning a kind of problem that has a resistance to resolution because of incomplete, contradictory, or changing requirements. In the academic literature, wicked problems have later served as a critical model in the understanding of various challenges related to society, such as for example climate change mitigation. This aim of this paper is to analyze how the perspective of wicked problems can contribute to an enhanced understanding of improved energy efficiency. The paper draws examples from the manufacturing sector. Results indicate that standalone technology improvements as well as energy managemen...

Energy Efficiency, 2010