2015 Conference

Poster Presentation

At current levels of consumption the U.S. economy appears to be about 14% energy-efficient – in effect, the nation wastes 86% of the high-quality energy burned to maintain economic activity. That magnitude of waste imposes large-scale costs that constrain economic robustness. Evidence suggests that the long-term sustainability of the economy may be impossible without dramatically higher levels of energy and resource efficiency. This poster paper will explore the implications of how accounting for energy as work, instead of as commodities sold on the market, may impact the need for new research and development, different energy policies, and changes in the nation's educational curriculum.