More clean energy and energy efficient homes? ... Maybe.
In the May 2012 issue of Nature Climate Change, authors Joseph E. Aldy, Matthew J. Kotchen and Anthony A. Leiserowitz report survey results that say the average U.S. citizen is willing to pay $162 per year in higher electricity bills for clean energy.
The group conducted the study to evaluate support for a national clean energy standard (NCES) that requires 80 percent clean energy for power production by 2035. The group even calculates household cost of Senate versus House packages. Good luck with that one, but the fact that people are willing to pay more for clean energy is encouraging. Though will they do so practice? Time and again consumers have shown a disturbing gap between desire and action.
More Energy Efficient Homes?
In another study on Energy Efficient Homes, Pike Research forecasts that 120 billion square feet of energy efficient housing will be created in the next eight years, in both new construction and retrofits. But don’t hold your breath on North America. Asia and European Union countries are being tabbed as the biggest home efficiency winners.
This from Pike:
Rising economic prosperity is driving soaring residential construction in Asia Pacific, and the region stands to experience significant growth in energy efficient homes, if appropriate regulatory and financing programs can be implemented. The European Union, meanwhile, represents the most mature market for energy efficient homes globally but will still see the strongest growth through 2020, at a regional CAGR of 44%, driven primarily by energy efficiency and carbon mandates. Growth will be slowest in North America, where the existing building stock remains largely unaddressed at the moment.
Could the big barriers in North America include consumer education and practices? Stay tuned.
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