Energy conservation: The main factor for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the former Soviet Union

Abstract

The energy intensity of the former Soviet Union0:') is more than twice that of other market ecc,nomies in similar stages of economic development. Low energy efficiency in the Soviet Union has contributed significantly to global carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions, The technological potential for energy conservation in the former Soviet Union is the largest in the world. The inefficiencies of the previously command-system economy, however, have provided little incentive ;for conserving energy. The present transition to a markei-based economy should encourage the incorporation of eneirgy-efficiencv improvements in order for the former Soviet Union to successfully lower its energy intensity. There ;are several obstacles that limit implementing energy conservation: for example_ cner_ prices and discount rates intluence the volume of investment in energy efficiency. Nevertheless, cost-effective measures for energy conservation do exist even in the most energy-intensive sectors of'the Soviet economy and should form the core of any energy conservation program. The overall cost-effective potential for carbon savings in the former Soviet Union is estimated to be 280 to 367 million tons of carbon per year by the year 2005, or 23 to 29 percent of 1988 energy-related emissions. " " " (b) This study includes "calculations taken over the entire territory, of the former Soviet Union, thus it is necessary to u:;e terminology which incorporates the whole area considered. For the sake of simplicity we will continue to use lhc previous names: Soviet Union and USSR.

Climate Change 1995: Economic and Social Dimensions of Climate Change

“…The Russian GDP, for example, declined by 18.5% in 1992. Economic activity in 1993 was lower than in 1985 (Bashmakov, 1994). Consequently, standard econometric techniques derived from historical records cannot be applied without caution.…”

Energy saving technologies in the heat supply systems of Uzbekistan

“…The study [2] notes that the most serious barriers to improving energy efficiency in the residential sector are related to building standards, the behavior of the population and difficulties in organizing and financing measures to improve energy conservation in common areas. The sphere of housing and communal services most affects the quality of life of the population and it contains the prospects for sustainable development along the green path, primarily in increasing the employment of the population of the republic.…”

“…The sphere of housing and communal services most affects the quality of life of the population and it contains the prospects for sustainable development along the green path, primarily in increasing the employment of the population of the republic. As the experience of other successful countries in energy-saving policy shows, in Uzbekistan, reducing the electricity consumption in the heat supply of buildings will reduce the total consumption of primary energy resources by almost five times; reducing the consumption of thermal energy reduces the total consumption of primary energy resources by almost three times [2].…”