• Energy Research

This paper investigates factors explaining the adoption of energy-efficient heating, cooling, window, and lighting technologies in U.S. commercial buildings. It presents multinomial logit models of technology adoption using the 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey microdata set, examining, first, fundamental building components, and, second, energy-efficient adaptations. Key findings are that the choice of fundamental building components is strongly influenced by locational factors, the activities that are expected to take place in the building, and building-specific characteristics. Lighting technologies are an exception, and are poorly explained by these factors. By contrast, energy-efficient heating, cooling, window, lighting, and control adaptations appear to share common drivers, and are more likely to be adopted in newer, larger, more energy-intensive, owner-occupied buildings. These are the buildings that can best afford the up-front costs of innovation, which is often a design-intensive process. Absent policy interventions, the energy-efficient adaptations are unlikely to diffuse rapidly to the rest of the commercial building stock.

This paper investigates factors explaining the adoption of energy-efficient heating, cooling, window, and lighting technologies in U.S. commercial buildings. It presents multinomial logit models of technology adoption using the 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey microdata set, examining, first, fundamental building components, and, second, energy-efficient adaptations. Key findings are that the choice of fundamental building components is strongly influenced by locational factors, the activities that are expected to take place in the building, and building-specific characteristics. Lighting technologies are an exception, and are poorly explained by these factors. By contrast, energy-efficient heating, cooling, window, lighting, and control adaptations appear to share common drivers, and are more likely to be adopted in newer, larger, more energy-intensive, owner-occupied buildings. These are the buildings that can best afford the up-front costs of innovation, which is often a design-intensive process. Absent policy interventions, the energy-efficient adaptations are unlikely to diffuse rapidly to the rest of the commercial building stock.

Comparisons of buildings in similar climates built in accordance with different regional construction practices and building rating systems can provide useful insights in sustainable design practices. The objectives of this study were: (1) to perform energy related life cycle assessments of a typical LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) single-family home in New Jersey (US), and a typical Minergie-P single-family home in Chur, Switzerland; and (2) to assess the effect of rating systems and construction practices on the buildings’ environmental impacts. Inventory data was obtained from the Ecoinvent 2.2 database with a replacement of the Western European electricity mix with the US or New Jersey electricity mix for the New Jersey home. The Swiss building performed better regarding nonrenewable energy consumption, Global Warming Potential and Acidification Potential mainly due to the geothermal heat pump and the Swiss electricity mix while there was less of a difference regarding Ozone Layer Depletion Potential and Eutrophication Potential. The influence of electricity sources exceeded the effects of longer building life time or the removal of the Swiss basement. Regional building practices, local codes and environmental policies should take the electricity mix into account because it is so important.

Comparisons of buildings in similar climates built in accordance with different regional construction practices and building rating systems can provide useful insights in sustainable design practices. The objectives of this study were: (1) to perform energy related life cycle assessments of a typical LEED-H (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Homes) single-family home in New Jersey (US), and a typical Minergie-P single-family home in Chur, Switzerland; and (2) to assess the effect of rating systems and construction practices on the buildings’ environmental impacts. Inventory data was obtained from the Ecoinvent 2.2 database with a replacement of the Western European electricity mix with the US or New Jersey electricity mix for the New Jersey home. The Swiss building performed better regarding nonrenewable energy consumption, Global Warming Potential and Acidification Potential mainly due to the geothermal heat pump and the Swiss electricity mix while there was less of a difference regarding Ozone Layer Depletion Potential and Eutrophication Potential. The influence of electricity sources exceeded the effects of longer building life time or the removal of the Swiss basement. Regional building practices, local codes and environmental policies should take the electricity mix into account because it is so important.

This article examines key issues facing public and private decision makers advocating for - or affected - by the possible emergence of a hydrogen economy. It offers alternative visions of a hydrogen future, explores the extent to which society can manage this technological transition identifies key business and public policy issues, and offers recommendations. Hydrogen advocates should take the time to understand the culture of a sector, industry, or enterprise to enable identification of events and circumstances that prompts action. Also, hydrogen as currently conceived is expected to evolve from a local market to a continental market over time, implying that state and local policies is also strongly influencing its development.

This article examines key issues facing public and private decision makers advocating for - or affected - by the possible emergence of a hydrogen economy. It offers alternative visions of a hydrogen future, explores the extent to which society can manage this technological transition identifies key business and public policy issues, and offers recommendations. Hydrogen advocates should take the time to understand the culture of a sector, industry, or enterprise to enable identification of events and circumstances that prompts action. Also, hydrogen as currently conceived is expected to evolve from a local market to a continental market over time, implying that state and local policies is also strongly influencing its development.

Future environmental requirements are an important component of investment risk for long-lived facilities such as electric power plants. Yet the industry's current regulatory compact discourages proactive environmental investments, and thus encourages suboptimal long-term compliance strategies. This paper develops an indicative estimate of the resulting inefficiency by analysing a typical US power system. It argues that market-oriented regulatory reform can encourage environmental risk management by utilities.

Future environmental requirements are an important component of investment risk for long-lived facilities such as electric power plants. Yet the industry's current regulatory compact discourages proactive environmental investments, and thus encourages suboptimal long-term compliance strategies. This paper develops an indicative estimate of the resulting inefficiency by analysing a typical US power system. It argues that market-oriented regulatory reform can encourage environmental risk management by utilities.