Rebound effect (conservation)

With Rebound (English for rebound ) is referred to in the energy economy of the fact that the potential savings from efficiency improvements is not or only partially met. Does the increase in efficiency even to increased consumption ( ie a rebound effect of more than 100 percent), it is called Backfire.

Examples

An example of rebound is the introduction of tungsten filament light bulbs instead of carbon filament lamp in the early 20th century. These consume as much energy for the same light output only a quarter. When they were introduced in the UK, many feared electricity works a slump in sales. Others, however, recognized that the so- subsidized light could now capture a mass market, and falling prices. You were right: The power consumption increased ( not only, but also ) because of more efficient lamps sharply.

Direct and indirect effects

For Rebound carry multiple effects at:

• Direct Rebound: An energy service, which is offered efficiently, it is cheaper. What is cheaper, is more demand.
• Indirect Rebound: Who energy, saving money thanks to increased efficiency, are out of money for other things, which also consumes energy.
• General compensatory effect: The energy saved is as an additional offering on the market. An additional supply lowers the price, which stimulates the demand. In other words, what a saving, consumes another.
• Transition effects: Technical efficiency gains changing consumer behavior, which has implications for infrastructure, social norms, and so on. For example, if the traffic more efficient to settlement patterns change, small shops disappear and shopping centers emerge, which eventually forces at a particular traffic behavior.
• Mental Rebound: On various lead savings through more efficient technologies for moral self-legitimation (moral licensing ) of additional consumption. Climbing motorists on a gas- powered vehicle around, this can provide you with a clear conscience more gas or even to travel further distances. Some of the potential savings is compensated by a higher consumption. Similarly, households can energy -saving lamps can burn longer than conventional incandescent bulbs and yet accomplish something for the environment.

History of Theory

As William Stanley Jevons first has rebound (not yet with this term ) described in 1865 in his book The Coal Question:

"It is wholly a confusion of ideas to suppose did the economic use of fuel is equivalent to a diminished consumption. The very contrary is the truth. "

" To suppose that the economical use of fuel is associated with a lower consumption, is a total confusion. The exact opposite is the case. "

Jevons calculated accordingly even with Backfire. Rebound since the term Jevons ' paradox known. After Jevons came rebound forgotten until around 1980 Leonard Brookes and Daniel Khazzoom again wrote the first scientific papers on the subject.

Practice

Although no one denies the existence of rebound principle, rebound in the scientific literature as well as in energy policy is hardly noticed. Thus, the UN panel on climate change IPCC mentioned rebound several times in his report and explained the term in the Glossary; it takes into account rebound effects in his scenarios but not. The proposal of environmental economists, instead of the eco-efficiency to increase the sufficiency, shall be deemed not enforceable. Regardless of the sufficiency is also not free of rebound effects.

Because rebound effects varied and very indirectly can act, it is not possible to measure it. The opinions, how big the round will be the rebound in general, so far apart. A study by the British government's Energy Research Centre UKERC noted in 2007 that reasonably reliable figures exist only for the direct rebound and only to areas such as transport and household in industrialized countries. In any case, it was " wrong to assume that rebound effects are so small that one could neglect them. " Publications of the beginning of 2013 to give the effect of having 5 to 30 % of the previously saved energy. Most of the savings stay composed, the effect is overestimated: Polluting emissions can be saved through more efficient use of energy. Whoever denies this drives a red herring.

Exclude rebound can be only if it is stated in the offer instead of demand: A ( artificial or natural ) shortage leaves no room for rebound. Then, however, the effects otherwise responsible for a rebound reduce the price increase as a result of supply shortages.

Financial incentives that lead to efficiency gains (to be), may impact differently: Are energy-efficient products or services supported by subsidies, they are thus cheaper. Therefore, with rebound effects or possibly to be expected in such subsidies much stronger Backfire as for example in the case of energy taxes that lead to the same degree to cost differences between more or less energy-efficient products or their use, because energy taxes also result in products with higher energy efficiency a certain price increases.

For products or services in which the energy costs determine a larger part of the total price is more likely to rebound or backfire as at low cost share, and the price dependence of demand plays a role. For example, more efficient cars lead to cross-country trips over longer distances with higher drive speed while driving in city traffic routes are less affected, because this would require additional time spent in the car. A fortiori, the number of dental visits is, for example, do not increase by more energy-efficient practice facilities.

Negative rebound effects can be achieved by using highly energy-intensive products are covered with taxes if there are lower-energy alternative products. This results in effects that increase the desired effect arise. First, the budget of those consumers who consume the most energy- intensive product decreased, thereby decreasing their overall consumption. Second, a part of the consumer is to resort to a lower energy product. However, a prerequisite for such an amplification effect is that the tax revenues are not used by the State for the re- use of energy-intensive goods. These effects are similar to those of a Pigouvian tax.

Rebound outside the energy economy

Rebound effects are also found outside the energy economy.

It is often observed a time - Rebound: So faster transport links lead to longer distances to be covered; time-saving household appliances such as washing machines change the standards ( it is more washed, etc.).

In the transport and industrial psychology rebound is known as risk compensation: If you feel safer with seat belts, airbags and ABS, bike helmet or as a result of health and safety measures, behaves tend risky and must be riskier actions expected of others.