US Residential Energy Demand and Energy Efficiency: A Stochastic Demand Frontier Approach

This paper estimates a US ‘frontier’ residential aggregate energy demand function using panel data for 48 ‘states’ over the period 1995 to 2006 using stochastic frontier analysis (SFA). Utilizing an econometric energy demand model, the (in) efficiency of each state is modelled and it is argued that this represents a measure of the inefficient use of residential energy in each state (i.e. ‘waste energy’). This underlying efficiency for the US is therefore observed for each state as well as the relative efficiency across the states. Moreover, the analysis suggests that energy intensity is not necessarily a good indicator of energy efficiency, whereas by controlling for a range of economic and other factors, the measure of energy efficiency obtained via this approach is. This is a novel approach to model residential energy demand and efficiency and it is arguably particularly relevant given current US energy policy discussions related to energy efficiency.Energy demand; US residential energy demand; efficiency and frontier analysis; state energy efficiency.

Fuel tourism in border regions

The gasoline price differential existing across the border between Switzerland and its neighbouring countries (gasoline price in Switzerland is generally lower than in the neighbouring countries) has encouraged the phenomenon of fuel tourism to develop. People living in the bordering regions of Italy, France and Germany have had an incentive to buy gasoline in Switzerland for several years. This phenomenon increased employment and fiscal revenues from fuel taxes in Switzerland, whereas in the neighbouring countries we observed lower fiscal revenues and a decrease of employment in the gasoline distribution sector. These repercussions on the government revenues have induced the North-Italian province of Lombardy to adopt measures against fuel tourism (in Italy, similar measures have already been adopted in the regions neighbouring Slovenia). For instance, the inhabitants in the regions near the border can take advantage of price rebates at the fuel stations. The reaction to the price decreases was very important: Six months after the introduction of the rebates at the Italian fuel stations, the fuel demand in the Swiss border regions decreased by 20 to 40%. On the other hand, fuel stations in Italy have realised important increases in selling. The case of fuel tourism gives a good economic example for price responsiveness. The extent to which fuel tourism can be a problem for the border region depends on the sensitivity of car owners to fuel price differentials and on the intensity of cross-bordering movements (density of population). In this paper we analyse the impact of country-specific fiscal policies on gasoline demand using aggregate data at a regional level for three Swiss border regions over the period 1986 to 1997. The data include fuel selling of three main gasoline companies in an area of 10 km from the border. For the area further away form the border, data for a sample of fuel stations are available. A log-log stochastic equation for gasoline consumption was estimated, using fuel price differences as well as regional income and other regional variables (for instance car density, commuters, number of border offices, prices of cigarettes) as independent variables. Initial estimation results show a very significant impact of price differentials on fuel demand and an important share of fuel tourism on the overall gasoline sales of Swiss border regions. It can be shown that gasoline consumption by consumers in bordering regions is very sensitive to price differentials of standardized goods like gasoline (that is goods, which do not differ from one country to the other). From an energy policy point of view this result implies that, as long as price differentials persist, there is little room in border regions for discouraging residential gasoline consumption using tax increases. Policy measures like those introduced in Italy and in other countries, in order to minimize the negative side-effects of a neighbour with low fuel taxes, seem to be successful in avoiding a loss of taxes as well as losses for owners of gas stations in the border region with higher taxes. Of course, for Switzerland this could imply a restructuring of the fuel-selling sector in border regions.

Measuring energy efficiency and its contribution towards meeting CO2 targets: estimates for 29 OECD countries

Using results for 29 OECD countries from the estimation of an extended version of the model advocated by Filippini and Hunt (2011a), actual energy consumption and CO2 emissions are compared to notional energy consumption and CO2 emissions if the countries were energy efficient. This shows the contribution that improvements in energy efficiency can make towards the reduction in CO2 emissions. It is found that in many countries efficiency improvements alone are not likely to be sufficient to bring about reductions in CO2 emissions required to meet ambitious obligations. However, this is not the case across all countries included in the investigation. Moreover, it is shown that some of the world’s largest OECD emitters can make a significant contribution to CO2 reductions from becoming energy efficient. Therefore the negotiations of the new legally binding treaty agreed under the Durban Platform should promote emission reduction targets that incentivise national energy efficiency.emissions, energy efficiency, Durban Platform.

Sexual Education: Abstinence-Only vs. Comprehensive Education

This paper aims to discuss the differences between abstinence-only sexual education and comprehensive sexual education. Both are methods of teaching children, generally from middle school age through high school, about sex and development; however, one focuses on saving sex for marriage (abstinence), while the other teaches this concept along with methods for contraception and sexually transmitted infection prevention (comprehensive). By discussing the background of sexual education in the United States (US), the curriculum in both the United States (US) and European countries (the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, and France), and methods for improving US sexual education, this paper will discuss the benefits and downfalls of both abstinence-only and comprehensive sexual education to illustrate what needs to be changed to improve US curriculum.B.S. (Bachelor of Science

Measurement of energy efficiency based on economic foundations

Energy efficiency policy is seen as a very important activity by almost all policy makers. In practical energy policy analysis, the typical indicator used as a proxy for energy efficiency is energy intensity. However, this simple indicator is not necessarily an accurate measure given changes in energy intensity are a function of changes in several factors as well as ‘true’ energy efficiency; hence, it is difficult to make conclusions for energy policy based upon simple energy intensity measures. Related to this , some published academic papers over the last few years have attempted to use empirical methods to measure the efficient use of energy based on the economic theory of production. However, these studies do not generally provide a systematic discussion of the theoretical basis nor the possible parametric empirical approaches that are available for estimat ing the level of energy efficiency. The objective of this paper, therefore, is to sketch out and explain from an economic perspective the theoretical framework as well as the empirical methods for measuring the level of energy efficiency . Addit ionally, in the second part of the paper, some of the empirical studies that have attempted to measure the energy efficiency using such an economics approach are summarised and discussed

Use of Perylene Diimides in Synthetic Photochemistry

Perylene diimides (PDIs) are valuable organic chromophores that stand out for their outstanding optical and redox properties. Owing to these features, PDIs have emerged as prominent dyes capable of acting as photocatalysts for numerous relevant organic transformations. This Minireview highlights the recent advances in the application of PDIs in organic photocatalysis. The various mechanistic pathways of the photo-reduction reaction of aryl halides, recently proposed in independent studies, are discussed with an eye to unsolved challenges and forward-looking opportunities regarding the use of PDIs within this field

Aptidão dos solos pra o cultivo do arroz irrigado no estado do Rio Grande do Sul.

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Uso de espectrorradiometria para a caracterização de solos de terras baixas.

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