Greater US efficiency can counter global energy chaos

Much of the proposed energy response to Russias invasion of Ukraine has focused on increasing domestic oil and gas production. While this will help, another powerful tool that has not received sufficient attention is increasing U.S. energy efficiency.

Not only would greater domestic energy efficiency reduce the influence of Russian oil and gas on the U.S. it also would provide other important benefits to American consumers and the economy. Any strategy to counter Russian-induced energy chaos should give greater weight to promoting energy efficiency domestically.

Some havedescribed how increased domestic oil and natural gas production is essential to protecting U.S. strategic interests^[1]. While true, the impact can be overestimated. Even as the U.S. has become a leading petroleum producer andnet petroleum exporter^[2], ameaningful portion of the oil purchased by Americans at the pump and elsewhere continues to be produced abroad^[3].Last year, for example, the U.S.imported 8.47 million barrels per day of petroleum^[4], equivalent to43 percent of the nations consumption^[5]. Looking ahead, imports are expected to continue even as domestic production grows because ofvarious factors, including mismatches between the type of crude oil produced domestically and U.S. refinery capacity^[6]. Increasing domestic production can help to shift the share, but it wont remove the significant presence of imported oil in U.S. markets.

Greater energy efficiency, however, provides an important strategic complement to domestic production by helping to lower how much oil and natural gas Americans need to consume. Whether through better insulation in homes and commercial buildings, improved industrial processes, efficient HVAC systems or more fuel-efficient vehicles as well as more mundane actions such as engine tune-ups and maintaining propertire pressure^[7] energy efficiency saves energy with various attendant benefits.

Of particular note in todays high-price environment, energy efficiency helps to reduce the exposure of American consumers to price volatility from international energy markets. When you need less energy to commute to work or to heat your home, surges in international oil prices will have a smaller impact on household expenses. Dampening U.S. demand for energy through efficiency also helps to diminish upward pressures on prices, benefitting all consumers. It reduces how much money American consumers send abroad to foreign energy suppliers, thereby improving the U.S. trade balance through lowered imports while improving household energy budgets.

Importantly, energy efficiency generally involves investments in domestic businesses, from American manufacturers to more local service providers. The contractor who installs efficient windows or heat pumps is typically from nearby. Spending locally to create jobs rather than spending on energy imports that fund foreign governments should resonate politically. Moreover, because Europe and other countries will need to invest more in their own energy efficiency for security and climate reasons, the global market for energy efficiency products and know-how should grow. Promoting energy efficiency domestically can help the U.S. industry become a leader in these technologies, creating business opportunities worldwide.

Domestic energy production is indeed a strategic asset for the U.S., and domestic energy efficiency generates many similar gains. Additionally, it can help to support Europe and other allies by increasing the amount of energy theU.S. has available to export^[8]under any level of domestic production. And by selling a greater share of domestic production abroad, not only do strategic partners benefit, but once again the U.S. trade balance will improve.

For some, the most important attributes of energy efficiency are the climate benefits. The International Energy Agencys model (IEA) consistently ranks energy efficiency as the leading clean energy technology. For example, it drives37 percent of the emissions reductions^[9]needed to achieve the well below 2 degrees Celsius temperature goal of theParis Agreement^[10] more than renewables, which weigh in at 32 percent. Greater U.S. energy efficiency provides a way to insulate wallets from price surges while protecting people from the increased fires, droughts and other damage that unchecked climate change could wreak.It would also improve air quality^[11]by reducing pollutants through less energy use.

Government programs within theDepartment of Energy^[12]andstate-level agencies^[13], as well as private-sectorbusinesses^[14],have been implemented to promote energy efficiency. Many providefinancial support to households^[15]andindustries^[16]to purchase energy-efficient equipment, withreturns to consumers and society far outweighing costs^[17].

Yet, a much greater effort is needed to spur the substantially greater amounts of investment required to combat climate change. As set out in the IEAs modeling,a four-fold increase in energy efficiency investments in the U.S.^[18]is needed by the 2030s, and a similarincrease is required globally^[19].

Given all these advantages, why isnt there more investment in energy efficiency? The reasons are numerous andwell-known^[22]within the energy efficiency community. They include an industry that lacks financial and political weight, especially compared to petroleum companies and other energy suppliers. Energy efficiency also, unfortunately, lacks appeal. While the geopolitics of Big Oil have captured imaginations for decades, installing insulation and otherstories about saving energy^[23]are less compelling. While energy efficiency may lack appeal, its benefits, however, are too big to ignore, especially in todays volatile world.

The U.S. needs greater energy efficiency to protect its consumers from energy chaos driven from abroad, whether thats Russias invasion of Ukraine or future unforeseeable or even predictable events.

Philippe Benoit has over 25 years of experience working in international affairs, including prior management positions at the World Bank and theInternational Energy Agency. He is currentlyresearch director at Global Infrastructure Analytics and Sustainability 2050.

References

1. ^{^} described how increased domestic oil and natural gas production is essential to protecting U.S. strategic interests (www.washingtonpost.com)
2. ^{^} net petroleum exporter (www.eia.gov)
3. ^{^} meaningful portion of the oil purchased by Americans at the pump and elsewhere continues to be produced abroad (thehill.com)
4. ^{^} imported 8.47 million barrels per day of petroleum (www.eia.gov)
5. ^{^} 43 percent of the nations consumption (www.eia.gov)
6. ^{^} various factors, including mismatches between the type of crude oil produced domestically and U.S. refinery capacity (www.api.org)
7. ^{^} tire pressure (www.fueleconomy.gov)
8. ^{^} U.S. has available to export (www.scientificamerican.com)
9. ^{^} 37 percent of the emissions reductions (www.iea.org)
10. ^{^} Paris Agreement (unfccc.int)
11. ^{^} It would also improve air quality (www.iea.org)
12. ^{^} Department of Energy (www.energy.gov)
13. ^{^} state-level agencies (www.dsireusa.org)
14. ^{^} businesses (www.nationaldefensemagazine.org)
15. ^{^} financial support to households (thehill.com)
16. ^{^} industries (www.energy.gov)
17. ^{^} returns to consumers and society far outweighing costs (archive.nytimes.com)
18. ^{^} a four-fold increase in energy efficiency investments in the U.S. (www.iea.org)
19. ^{^} increase is required globally (www.iea.org)
20. ^{^} The Kremlins data-driven propaganda machine is just getting started (thehill.com)
21. ^{^} If Putin wins in Ukraine, then what? (thehill.com)
22. ^{^} well-known (www.energy.gov)
23. ^{^} stories about saving energy (energyeconomicgrowth.org)