Jonathan Koomey - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Jonathan Koomey

Energy Policy, 2001

The Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future study relied primarily on “bottom-up” technology-based me... more The Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future study relied primarily on “bottom-up” technology-based methods to estimate costs associated with its scenarios. These methods, however, do not allow for calculation of economy-wide or general equilibrium effects of the policies considered. We propose and apply a means of combining the bottom-up estimates with estimates of the costs associated with a carbon charge

The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives o... more The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory. Many believe that anything done to lower such emissions will necessarily restrict economic activity. Others argue that if the economy moves forward at current levels of efficiency, growth in greenhouse gas emissions will be inevitable and the global climate will be seriously damaged. Because of the "unavoidable tradeoff" between these two objectives, the various industry, government and environmental groups wage a constant policy battle over which objective merits the greater support. From a perspective of cost-effective investments in technology, however, it becomes increasingly clear that these two goals are not at all contradictory. The reason is that the U.S. economy falls short of an optimal level of overall carbon efficiency. Figure ES-1 on the following page illustrates the different points of view in a schematic way. The curves on this graph represent different "Production Possibility Frontiers" that characterize the relationship between carbon emissions mitigation and economic activity. The frontier defines the outer boundary of what is feasible given a set of technologies and economic activity levels.

ABSTRACT Data centre services hold promise for reducing societal carbon emissions, but an imperfe... more ABSTRACT Data centre services hold promise for reducing societal carbon emissions, but an imperfect and evolving portfolio of performance metrics obscures which data centre characteristics correspond to low-carbon operations. Meanwhile, policymakers face a pressing question: can we identify and promote tangible characteristics that reliably represent low-carbon data centres today while the world awaits better metrics? Fortunately, data centre energy models can provide actionable guidance. Here, we present results that identify such characteristics and illuminate the factors that govern a data centre's actual carbon performance. These results can help public and private sector policymakers accelerate the transition to a low-carbon Internet by aligning data centre incentives with factors that truly matter.

This report is the appendices to a companion report, prepared in response to the request from Con... more This report is the appendices to a companion report, prepared in response to the request from Congress stated in Public Law 109-431 (H.R. 5646), "An Act to Study and Promote the Use of Energy Efficient Computer Servers in the United States." This report assesses current trends in energy use and energy costs of data centers and servers in the U.S. (especially Federal government facilities) and outlines existing and emerging opportunities for improved energy efficiency. It also makes recommendations for pursuing these energy-efficiency opportunities broadly across the country through the use of information and incentive-based programs.

Advances in the Economics of Environmental Resources, 2001

The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives o... more The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory. Many believe that anything done to lower such emissions will necessarily restrict economic activity. Others argue that if the economy moves forward at current levels of efficiency, growth in greenhouse gas emissions will be inevitable and the global climate will be seriously damaged. Because of the "unavoidable tradeoff" between these two objectives, the various industry, government and environmental groups wage a constant policy battle over which objective merits the greater support. From a perspective of cost-effective investments in technology, however, it becomes increasingly clear that these two goals are not at all contradictory. The reason is that the U.S. economy falls short of an optimal level of overall carbon efficiency. Figure ES-1 on the following page illustrates the different points of view in a schematic way. The curves on this graph represent different "Production Possibility Frontiers" that characterize the relationship between carbon emissions mitigation and economic activity. The frontier defines the outer boundary of what is feasible given a set of technologies and economic activity levels.

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 2013

Until recently, the main environmental concerns associated with information and communication tec... more Until recently, the main environmental concerns associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been their usephase electricity consumption and the chemicals associated with their manufacture, and the environmental effects of these technologies on other parts of the economy have largely been ignored. With the advent of mobile computing, communication, and sensing devices, these indirect effects have the potential to be much more important than the impacts from the use and manufacturing phases of this equipment. This article summarizes the trends that have propelled modern technological societies into the ultralow-power design space and explores the implications of these trends for the direct and indirect environmental impacts associated with these new technologies. It reviews the literature on environmental effects of information technology (also with an emphasis on low-power systems) and suggests areas for further research.

ENERGY STAR(Registered Trademark) is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promot... more ENERGY STAR(Registered Trademark) is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, buildings and practices. Operated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels exist for more than thirty products, spanning office equipment, residential heating and cooling equipment, commercial and residential lighting, home electronics, and major appliances. This report presents savings estimates for a subset of ENERGY STAR program activities, focused primarily on labeled products. We present estimates of the energy, dollar and carbon savings achieved by the program in the year 2000, what we expect in 2001, and provide savings forecasts for two market penetration scenarios for the period 2001 to 2020. The target market penetration forecast represents our best estimate of future ENERGY STAR savings. It is based on realistic market penetration goals for each of the products. We also provide a forecast under the assumption of 100 percent market penetration; that is, we assume that all purchasers buy ENERGY STAR-compliant products instead of standard efficiency products throughout the analysis period.

During the past three years, working with more than 150 organizations representing public and pri... more During the past three years, working with more than 150 organizations representing public and private stakeholders, EPRI has developed the Electricity Technology Roadmap. The Roadmap identifies several major strategic challenges that must be successfully addressed to ensure a sustainable future in which electricity continues to play an important role in economic growth. Articulation of these anticipated trends and challenges requires a detailed understanding of the role and importance of reliable electricity in different sectors of the economy. This report is intended to contribute to that understanding by analyzing key aspects of trends in the economic value of electricity reliability in the U.S. economy.

Page 1. LBNL-40295 UC-1600 MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICITY USE IN THE US RESIDENTIAL SECTOR MC Sanchez,... more Page 1. LBNL-40295 UC-1600 MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICITY USE IN THE US RESIDENTIAL SECTOR MC Sanchez, JG Koomey, MM Moezzi, AK Meier, and W. Huber Energy Analysis Department Environmental Energy ...

Proceedings of the IEEE, 2000

Data centers are a significant and growing component of electricity demand in the United States. ... more Data centers are a significant and growing component of electricity demand in the United States. This paper presents a bottom-up model that can be used to estimate total data center electricity demand within a region as well as the potential electricity savings associated with energy effi- ciency improvements. The model is applied to estimate 2008 U.S. data center electricity demand and the technical potential for electricity savings associated with major measures for IT devices and infrastructure equipment. Results suggest that 2008 demand was approximately 69 billion kilowatt hours (1.8% of 2008 total U.S. electricity sales) and that it may be technically feasible to reduce this demand by up to 80% (to 13 billion kilowatt hours) through aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency measures. Measure-level savings estimates are provided, which shed light on the relative importance of different measures at the national level. Measures applied to servers are found to have the greatest contribution to potential savings.

Energy Policy, 1998

This article assesses the importance of the residential miscellaneous electricity end use. Miscel... more This article assesses the importance of the residential miscellaneous electricity end use. Miscellaneous electricity is one of the largest and fastest growing residential end uses. Consumer electronics and halogen torchiere lamps are primary catalysts of end use ...

Energy Policy, 2000

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-e$cient produ... more ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-e$cient products. Operated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels exist for more than 20 products, spanning o$ce equipment, residential heating and cooling equipment, new homes, commercial and residential lighting, home electronics, and major appliances. We present estimates of the energy, dollar and carbon savings already achieved by the program and provide savings forecasts for several market penetration scenarios for the period 2001}2010.

Climate Policy, 2006

Global climate change presents a classic problem of decision making under uncertainty with learni... more Global climate change presents a classic problem of decision making under uncertainty with learning. We provide stochastic dominance theorems that provide new insights into when abatement and investment into low carbon technology should increase in risk. We show that R&D into low-carbon technologies and near-term abatement are in some sense opposites in terms of risk. Abatement provides insurance against the possibility of major catastrophes; R&D provides insurance against the possibility that climate change is marginally worse than average. We extend our results to the comparative statics of learning. JEL classification: D81;O32; Q54; Q55; Q58

Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 2002

Students of public policy sometimes envision an idealized policy process where competent data col... more Students of public policy sometimes envision an idealized policy process where competent data collection and incisive analysis on both sides of a debate lead to reasoned judgments and sound decisions. Unfortunately, numbers that prove decisive in policy debates are not always carefully developed, credibly documented, or correct. This paper presents four widely cited examples of numbers in the energy field that are either misleading or wrong. It explores the origins of these numbers, how they missed the mark, and how they have been misused by both analysts and the media. In addition, it describes and uses a three-stage analytical process for evaluating such statistics that involves defining terms and boundaries, assessing underlying data, and critically analyzing arguments. CONTENTS * The U.S. Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright covering this paper. Is 1 Megawatt Equal to the Electricity Use of 1000 Homes? THE ISSUE One of the often cited indicators of electricity use is the number of households that can be served by 1 megawatt (MW) of generating capacity. The rule of thumb typically used is 1000 households per MW of capacity, implying a load of 1 kilowatt (kW) per household. This rule of thumb dates back to the 1970s, although it became more prominent in the past few years. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), after discussions with California utilities, began using this equivalence for reporters during the California power crisis, and the California Energy Commission includes it on its official web site (2a). More recently, the CAISO started using 750 households per MW after the California utilities suggested that it was a more representative statistic [Information Officer Lori O'Donley (CAISO), personal communication, November 1, 2001]. Unfortunately, this simplification can lead to confusion. It is an acceptable

... Jonathan G. Koomey, Ernst Worrell, and Etan Gumerman 510/486-5974, JGKoomey@lbl.gov Lawrence ... more ... Jonathan G. Koomey, Ernst Worrell, and Etan Gumerman 510/486-5974, JGKoomey@lbl.gov Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA ... associated with CHP systems, in both the industrial and commercial/institutional settings (Onsite Sycom, 2000; Elliott and Spurr ...

Energy Policy, 2001

The Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future study relied primarily on “bottom-up” technology-based me... more The Scenarios for a Clean Energy Future study relied primarily on “bottom-up” technology-based methods to estimate costs associated with its scenarios. These methods, however, do not allow for calculation of economy-wide or general equilibrium effects of the policies considered. We propose and apply a means of combining the bottom-up estimates with estimates of the costs associated with a carbon charge

The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives o... more The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory. Many believe that anything done to lower such emissions will necessarily restrict economic activity. Others argue that if the economy moves forward at current levels of efficiency, growth in greenhouse gas emissions will be inevitable and the global climate will be seriously damaged. Because of the "unavoidable tradeoff" between these two objectives, the various industry, government and environmental groups wage a constant policy battle over which objective merits the greater support. From a perspective of cost-effective investments in technology, however, it becomes increasingly clear that these two goals are not at all contradictory. The reason is that the U.S. economy falls short of an optimal level of overall carbon efficiency. Figure ES-1 on the following page illustrates the different points of view in a schematic way. The curves on this graph represent different "Production Possibility Frontiers" that characterize the relationship between carbon emissions mitigation and economic activity. The frontier defines the outer boundary of what is feasible given a set of technologies and economic activity levels.

ABSTRACT Data centre services hold promise for reducing societal carbon emissions, but an imperfe... more ABSTRACT Data centre services hold promise for reducing societal carbon emissions, but an imperfect and evolving portfolio of performance metrics obscures which data centre characteristics correspond to low-carbon operations. Meanwhile, policymakers face a pressing question: can we identify and promote tangible characteristics that reliably represent low-carbon data centres today while the world awaits better metrics? Fortunately, data centre energy models can provide actionable guidance. Here, we present results that identify such characteristics and illuminate the factors that govern a data centre's actual carbon performance. These results can help public and private sector policymakers accelerate the transition to a low-carbon Internet by aligning data centre incentives with factors that truly matter.

This report is the appendices to a companion report, prepared in response to the request from Con... more This report is the appendices to a companion report, prepared in response to the request from Congress stated in Public Law 109-431 (H.R. 5646), "An Act to Study and Promote the Use of Energy Efficient Computer Servers in the United States." This report assesses current trends in energy use and energy costs of data centers and servers in the U.S. (especially Federal government facilities) and outlines existing and emerging opportunities for improved energy efficiency. It also makes recommendations for pursuing these energy-efficiency opportunities broadly across the country through the use of information and incentive-based programs.

Advances in the Economics of Environmental Resources, 2001

The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives o... more The common perception among many policy makers and industry leaders is that the twin objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting a more competitive economy are inherently contradictory. Many believe that anything done to lower such emissions will necessarily restrict economic activity. Others argue that if the economy moves forward at current levels of efficiency, growth in greenhouse gas emissions will be inevitable and the global climate will be seriously damaged. Because of the "unavoidable tradeoff" between these two objectives, the various industry, government and environmental groups wage a constant policy battle over which objective merits the greater support. From a perspective of cost-effective investments in technology, however, it becomes increasingly clear that these two goals are not at all contradictory. The reason is that the U.S. economy falls short of an optimal level of overall carbon efficiency. Figure ES-1 on the following page illustrates the different points of view in a schematic way. The curves on this graph represent different "Production Possibility Frontiers" that characterize the relationship between carbon emissions mitigation and economic activity. The frontier defines the outer boundary of what is feasible given a set of technologies and economic activity levels.

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, 2013

Until recently, the main environmental concerns associated with information and communication tec... more Until recently, the main environmental concerns associated with information and communication technologies (ICTs) have been their usephase electricity consumption and the chemicals associated with their manufacture, and the environmental effects of these technologies on other parts of the economy have largely been ignored. With the advent of mobile computing, communication, and sensing devices, these indirect effects have the potential to be much more important than the impacts from the use and manufacturing phases of this equipment. This article summarizes the trends that have propelled modern technological societies into the ultralow-power design space and explores the implications of these trends for the direct and indirect environmental impacts associated with these new technologies. It reviews the literature on environmental effects of information technology (also with an emphasis on low-power systems) and suggests areas for further research.

ENERGY STAR(Registered Trademark) is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promot... more ENERGY STAR(Registered Trademark) is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products, buildings and practices. Operated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels exist for more than thirty products, spanning office equipment, residential heating and cooling equipment, commercial and residential lighting, home electronics, and major appliances. This report presents savings estimates for a subset of ENERGY STAR program activities, focused primarily on labeled products. We present estimates of the energy, dollar and carbon savings achieved by the program in the year 2000, what we expect in 2001, and provide savings forecasts for two market penetration scenarios for the period 2001 to 2020. The target market penetration forecast represents our best estimate of future ENERGY STAR savings. It is based on realistic market penetration goals for each of the products. We also provide a forecast under the assumption of 100 percent market penetration; that is, we assume that all purchasers buy ENERGY STAR-compliant products instead of standard efficiency products throughout the analysis period.

During the past three years, working with more than 150 organizations representing public and pri... more During the past three years, working with more than 150 organizations representing public and private stakeholders, EPRI has developed the Electricity Technology Roadmap. The Roadmap identifies several major strategic challenges that must be successfully addressed to ensure a sustainable future in which electricity continues to play an important role in economic growth. Articulation of these anticipated trends and challenges requires a detailed understanding of the role and importance of reliable electricity in different sectors of the economy. This report is intended to contribute to that understanding by analyzing key aspects of trends in the economic value of electricity reliability in the U.S. economy.

Page 1. LBNL-40295 UC-1600 MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICITY USE IN THE US RESIDENTIAL SECTOR MC Sanchez,... more Page 1. LBNL-40295 UC-1600 MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICITY USE IN THE US RESIDENTIAL SECTOR MC Sanchez, JG Koomey, MM Moezzi, AK Meier, and W. Huber Energy Analysis Department Environmental Energy ...

Proceedings of the IEEE, 2000

Data centers are a significant and growing component of electricity demand in the United States. ... more Data centers are a significant and growing component of electricity demand in the United States. This paper presents a bottom-up model that can be used to estimate total data center electricity demand within a region as well as the potential electricity savings associated with energy effi- ciency improvements. The model is applied to estimate 2008 U.S. data center electricity demand and the technical potential for electricity savings associated with major measures for IT devices and infrastructure equipment. Results suggest that 2008 demand was approximately 69 billion kilowatt hours (1.8% of 2008 total U.S. electricity sales) and that it may be technically feasible to reduce this demand by up to 80% (to 13 billion kilowatt hours) through aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency measures. Measure-level savings estimates are provided, which shed light on the relative importance of different measures at the national level. Measures applied to servers are found to have the greatest contribution to potential savings.

Energy Policy, 1998

This article assesses the importance of the residential miscellaneous electricity end use. Miscel... more This article assesses the importance of the residential miscellaneous electricity end use. Miscellaneous electricity is one of the largest and fastest growing residential end uses. Consumer electronics and halogen torchiere lamps are primary catalysts of end use ...

Energy Policy, 2000

ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-e$cient produ... more ENERGY STAR is a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-e$cient products. Operated jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE), ENERGY STAR labels exist for more than 20 products, spanning o$ce equipment, residential heating and cooling equipment, new homes, commercial and residential lighting, home electronics, and major appliances. We present estimates of the energy, dollar and carbon savings already achieved by the program and provide savings forecasts for several market penetration scenarios for the period 2001}2010.

Climate Policy, 2006

Global climate change presents a classic problem of decision making under uncertainty with learni... more Global climate change presents a classic problem of decision making under uncertainty with learning. We provide stochastic dominance theorems that provide new insights into when abatement and investment into low carbon technology should increase in risk. We show that R&D into low-carbon technologies and near-term abatement are in some sense opposites in terms of risk. Abatement provides insurance against the possibility of major catastrophes; R&D provides insurance against the possibility that climate change is marginally worse than average. We extend our results to the comparative statics of learning. JEL classification: D81;O32; Q54; Q55; Q58

Annual Review of Energy and the Environment, 2002

Students of public policy sometimes envision an idealized policy process where competent data col... more Students of public policy sometimes envision an idealized policy process where competent data collection and incisive analysis on both sides of a debate lead to reasoned judgments and sound decisions. Unfortunately, numbers that prove decisive in policy debates are not always carefully developed, credibly documented, or correct. This paper presents four widely cited examples of numbers in the energy field that are either misleading or wrong. It explores the origins of these numbers, how they missed the mark, and how they have been misused by both analysts and the media. In addition, it describes and uses a three-stage analytical process for evaluating such statistics that involves defining terms and boundaries, assessing underlying data, and critically analyzing arguments. CONTENTS * The U.S. Government has the right to retain a nonexclusive, royalty-free license in and to any copyright covering this paper. Is 1 Megawatt Equal to the Electricity Use of 1000 Homes? THE ISSUE One of the often cited indicators of electricity use is the number of households that can be served by 1 megawatt (MW) of generating capacity. The rule of thumb typically used is 1000 households per MW of capacity, implying a load of 1 kilowatt (kW) per household. This rule of thumb dates back to the 1970s, although it became more prominent in the past few years. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO), after discussions with California utilities, began using this equivalence for reporters during the California power crisis, and the California Energy Commission includes it on its official web site (2a). More recently, the CAISO started using 750 households per MW after the California utilities suggested that it was a more representative statistic [Information Officer Lori O'Donley (CAISO), personal communication, November 1, 2001]. Unfortunately, this simplification can lead to confusion. It is an acceptable

... Jonathan G. Koomey, Ernst Worrell, and Etan Gumerman 510/486-5974, JGKoomey@lbl.gov Lawrence ... more ... Jonathan G. Koomey, Ernst Worrell, and Etan Gumerman 510/486-5974, JGKoomey@lbl.gov Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Berkeley, CA ... associated with CHP systems, in both the industrial and commercial/institutional settings (Onsite Sycom, 2000; Elliott and Spurr ...