Energy Efficiency / Resource Planning

Using untapped efficiency is the single most effective step in achieving greenhouse gas reduction at the lowest cost to our global economy. RAP focuses on policies and projects that will increase investment in cost-effective energy efficiency and improve the effectiveness of that investment. We also help identify and implement utility business models that further efficiency goals. Decoupling, for example, is a regulatory mechanism that breaks the link between how much energy a utility delivers and the revenue it collects, thereby removing the disincentive for utilities to promote efficiency.

Featured Work

Policies for Energy Provider Delivery of Energy Efficiency (PEPDEE)

In partnership with the International Energy Agency (IEA), RAP supported a new work programme focused on energy efficiency and energy providers. Formulated under the auspices of the International...

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Capturing the World's "First" Resource With Energy Efficiency Obligations

Energy efficiency is widely recognized as a low-cost, readily available resource. One of the most effective means of capturing efficiency resources is establishing an energy efficiency obligation (EEO).

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The Challenge to Meet EU's 2020 Efficiency Goals

The EU has set a policy target of achieving 20 percent energy savings by 2020, thereby saving consumers money, increasing the security of supply, reducing emissions and creating jobs. The EU faces several challenges in meeting this goal, and is taking steps to meet it, including issuing the Energy Efficiency Action Plan 2011 and revising the End-Use Efficiency and Energy Services Directive .

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Modeling a More Efficient Power Plant

In 2003, RAP first developed the concept of the efficiency power plant (EPP), a set of integrated energy efficiency programs whose savings mirror the output of a conventional power plant. Since then, we’ve worked with our Chinese partners to further refine the idea,develop funding sources and initiate pilot programs in six provinces.

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Helping States Meet Efficiency Targets

RAP recently helped Arizona regulators put their state on a long-term course to grow energy efficiency savings to levels as high as anywhere in the US, working with the Arizona Corporation Commission to achieve a 22% reduction in electricity demand by the year 2020 (based on 2010 numbers).

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Decoupling: Incentives for Energy Savings

Decoupling is a tool designed to break the link between how much energy a utility delivers and the revenues it collects, thereby eliminating the utility's incentive to increase profits by increasing sales. With minor periodic adjustments in rates to stabilize revenues, the utility is indifferent to sales volumes and less prone to risk.

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Tapping Efficiency in Homes

Roughly half of all efficiency and/or carbon emission reduction in North American and European buildings can be achieved through retrofit improvements to existing homes. Achieving the efficiency potential will require a new strategy to treat buildings collectively as a critical component of the energy infrastructure.

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