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Energy Efficiency Policies and the Jevons Paradox

Author

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  • Jaume Freire-Gonz lez

    (ENT Environment and Management, Spain)

  • Ignasi Puig-Ventosa

    (ENT Environment and Management, Spain)

Abstract

Energy and climate change policies are often strongly based on achieving energy efficiency targets. These policies are supposed to reduce energy consumption and consequently, associated pollutant emissions, but the Jevons paradox may pose a question mark on this assumption. Rebound effects produced by reduction in costs of energy services have not been generally taken into account in policy making (there is only one known exception). Although there is no scientific consensus about its magnitude, there is consensus about its existence and in acknowledging the harmful effects it has on achieving energy or climate targets. It is necessary to address the rebound effect through behavioral, legal and economic instruments. This paper analyzes the main available policies to minimize the rebound effect in households with special emphasis on economic instruments and, particularly, on energy taxation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaume Freire-Gonz lez & Ignasi Puig-Ventosa, 2015. "Energy Efficiency Policies and the Jevons Paradox," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 5(1), pages 69-79.
    • Handle: RePEc:eco:journ2:2015-01-06
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    Cited by:

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    2. Darío Serrano-Puente, 2021. "Are we moving toward an energy-efficient low-carbon economy? An input–output LMDI decomposition of CO $$_{2}$$ 2 emissions for Spain and the EU28," SERIEs: Journal of the Spanish Economic Association, Springer;Spanish Economic Association, vol. 12(2), pages 151-229, June.
    3. Wei Zhen & Quande Qin & Lei Jiang, 2022. "Heterogeneous Domestic Intermediate Input-Related Carbon Emissions in China’s Exports," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 81(3), pages 453-479, March.
    4. Freire-González, Jaume, 2017. "Evidence of direct and indirect rebound effect in households in EU-27 countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 270-276.
    5. Freire-González, Jaume & Font Vivanco, David & Puig-Ventosa, Ignasi, 2017. "Economic structure and energy savings from energy efficiency in households," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 12-20.
    6. Font Vivanco, David & Kemp, René & van der Voet, Ester, 2016. "How to deal with the rebound effect? A policy-oriented approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 114-125.
    7. Chinnasamy Palanichamy & Palanichamy Naveen & Wong Kiing Ing & Michael Kobina Danquah & Jayaraman Indumath, 2015. "Energy Efficiency Enhancement of Fossil-Fuelled Power Systems," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 5(3), pages 765-771.
    8. Freire-González, Jaume, 2017. "A new way to estimate the direct and indirect rebound effect and other rebound indicators," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 394-402.
    9. Freire-González, Jaume & Ho, Mun S., 2022. "Policy strategies to tackle rebound effects: A comparative analysis," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    10. Khondaker Golam Moazzem & Faisal Quaiyyum, 2024. "Factors Determining Power and Energy Consumption Behaviour of Households in Bangladesh: A Cross-Section Analysis," CPD Report 48, Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
    11. Ahmann, Lara & Banning, Maximilian & Lutz, Christian, 2022. "Modeling rebound effects and counteracting policies for German industries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    12. Estrella Trincado & Antonio Sánchez-Bayón & José María Vindel, 2021. "The European Union Green Deal: Clean Energy Wellbeing Opportunities and the Risk of the Jevons Paradox," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-23, July.
    13. Sean Williams & Michael Short & Tracey Crosbie & Maryam Shadman-Pajouh, 2020. "A Decentralized Informatics, Optimization, and Control Framework for Evolving Demand Response Services," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-30, August.
    14. Eric Wilson & Phalguni Mukhopadhyaya, 2020. "The All-You-Can-Eat Economy: How Never-Ending Economic Growth Affects Our Happiness and Our Chances for a Sustainable Future," World, MDPI, vol. 1(3), pages 1-11, November.
    15. Kulmer, Veronika & Seebauer, Sebastian, 2019. "How robust are estimates of the rebound effect of energy efficiency improvements? A sensitivity analysis of consumer heterogeneity and elasticities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 1-14.
    16. Kulmer, Veronika & Seebauer, Sebastian, 2017. "How Robust are Estimates of the Rebound Effect of Energy Efficiency Improvements? A Sensitivity Analysis of Consumer Heterogeneity and Elasticities," FCN Working Papers 16/2017, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    17. Dmitry Burakov, 2015. "Energy Effi ciency in Rent Seeking Economies: Is Credit Capable of Breaking the Energy Curse?," International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, Econjournals, vol. 5(3), pages 677-685.
    18. Rocha, Felipe Freitas da & Almeida, Edmar Luiz Fagundes de, 2021. "A general equilibrium model of macroeconomic rebound effect: A broader view," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 98(C).
    19. Olatz Azurza-Zubizarreta & Izaro Basurko-PerezdeArenaza & Eñaut Zelarain & Estitxu Villamor & Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki & Unai Villena-Camarero & Alvaro Campos-Celador & Iñaki Barcena-Hinojal, 2021. "Urban Energy Transitions in Europe, towards Low-Socio-Environmental Impact Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-29, October.
    20. Aldona Standar & Agnieszka Kozera & Łukasz Satoła, 2021. "The Importance of Local Investments Co-Financed by the European Union in the Field of Renewable Energy Sources in Rural Areas of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(2), pages 1-23, January.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Rebound effect; Energy efficiency; Environmental taxation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q3 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Nonrenewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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