The Economics of Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Date

September 23, 2009, 3:00 AM EDT
Peterson Institute for International Economics, Washington, DC
Trevor Houser (PIIE) and George David (Chairman, United Technologies Corporation)

Event Summary

The Institute released a new study on a central element of the climate change issue: The Economics of Energy Efficiency in Buildings. Buildings account for nearly 40 percent of global energy demand, more than transportation, industry, or any other sector. Hence buildings will play a critical role in the worldwide effort to limit carbon emissions and deal effectively with global warming.

Trevor Houser, author of the study, presented the findings of this new study. Houser is currently serving as senior advisor to the US Special Envoy on Climate Change and has been a visiting fellow at the Institute for the past two years, as well as a partner at the New York-based research firm The Rhodium Group. George David, the Chairman and former CEO of United Technologies and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Institute, presented the business perspective on building energy efficiency.

Houser is also author or coauthor of earlier PIIE studies China Energy: A Guide for the Perplexed ; Leveling the Carbon Playing Field: International Competition and US Climate Policy Design; and A Green Global Recovery: Assessing US Economic Stimulus and the Prospects for International Coordination?

Event Materials

Policy Brief 09-17: The Economics of Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Trevor Houser
August 2009

Presentation: The Economics of Energy Efficiency in Buildings [pdf]
Trevor Houser
September 23, 2009

Policy Brief 09-3: A Green Global Recovery: Assessing US Economic Stimulus and the Prospects for International Coordination?
Trevor Houser, Shashank Mohan, and Robert Heilmayr
February 2009

Peterson Perspectives Interview: Is a Green Recovery Possible?
Trevor Houser
February 4, 2009

Book: Leveling the Carbon Playing Field: International Competition and US Climate Policy Design
Trevor Houser, Rob Bradley, Britt Childs, Jacob Werksman, and Robert Heilmayr
May 2008

Paper: China Energy: A Guide for the Perplexed [pdf]
Daniel H. Rosen and Trevor Houser
May 2007

Video