Energy Surprises for the 21st Century

This article provides an overview of some of the issues and innovations that are likely to alter the global energy sector in the early 21st century. According to the authors, the energy topics that will be at the forefront of national energy debate in the 21st century are energy efficiency, electricity restructuring, whole-system design for efficiency, breaking barriers, distributed utilities, Hypercars, business-oriented solutions to climate issues, the hydrogen economy, energy security, and natural capitalism.

Negawatts for Fabs: Advanced Energy Productivity for Fun and Profit

In this presentation, Amory Lovins presents data showing that chip fabrication plants can be significantly more energy efficient. Lovins shows how a whole-systems design approach can result in significant energy and cost savings, which results in more profit for the company.

The Super-Efficient Passive Building Frontier

This case study of a superefficient home suggests that integrated whole-building design can yield superior comfort with about three to thirty times less mechanical energy and often with lower capital costs, but that achieving this poses fundamental challenges to professional education and practice and to compensation structure.

What an Energy-Efficient Computer Can Do

This paper from 1993 describes the economic benefits of purchasing an energy efficient computer. Amory Lovins argues that when you buy an energy efficient desktop computer, you’re getting more benefits than just a lower electric bill and some of those benefits may be even more important to your business.

Least-Cost Climatic Stabilization

In this paper from 1991, Amory Lovins argues that global warming is not a natural result of normal, optimal economic activity. He argues that it is an artifact of the economically inefficient use of resources, especially energy.

If It's Not Efficient, It's Not Beautiful

In this article published in Fine Homebuilding Amory Lovins argues that despite the beauty and craftsmanship of the houses featured in the magazine, many of them are missing a dedicated effort to use energy and water efficiently. Homebuilders should be aware of resource-saving methods that make houses more affordable, comfortable and earth-friendly.

Four Revolutions in Electric Efficiency

In this article from Contemporary Policy Issues in 1990, Amory Lovins discuses four changes impacting electricity demand. He argues that demand for electricity is altered profoundly by new technologies for improved end-use efficiency, new ways to finance and deliver those technologies to customers, cultural change within utilities, and regulatory reforms to reward efficient behavior.

Negawatt Revolution

This paper from 1990 describes electricity and cost savings potential. The examples given show how technology from the time could be harnessed to save three fourths of electricity in use by companies.

Greenhouse Warming: Efficient Solution or Nuclear Nemisis

In this paper from 1988, Bill Keepin compares the environmental and economic costs of nuclear power and energy efficiency in order to determine which option can create the most energy with the least impact. The analysis shows that while nuclear energy is an energy option with little carbon impact, it is not as effective, cheap, or reliable as energy efficiency.

Energy Strategy: The Road Not Taken

This landmark article in Foreign Affairs describes Amory Lovins' concepts of the "hard path" and "soft path" of energy use. This piece established Lovins as an innovative voice in the ongoing energy debate.