Carbon reductions and health co-benefits from US residential energy efficiency measures

Abstract

The United States (US) Clean Power Plan established state-specific carbon dioxide (CO _2 ) emissions reduction goals for fossil fuel-fired electricity generating units (EGUs). States may achieve these goals through multiple mechanisms, including measures that can achieve equivalent CO _2 reductions such as residential energy efficiency, which will have important co-benefits. Here, we develop state-resolution simulations of the economic, health, and climate benefits of increased residential insulation, considering EGUs and residential combustion. Increasing insulation to International Energy Conservation Code 2012 levels for all single-family homes in the US in 2013 would lead to annual reductions of 80 million tons of CO _2 from EGUs, with annual co-benefits including 30 million tons of CO _2 from residential combustion and 320 premature deaths associated with criteria pollutant emissions from both EGUs and residential combustion sources. Monetized climate and health co-benefits average $49 per ton of CO _2 reduced from EGUs (range across states: $12–$390). State-specific co-benefit estimates can inform development of optimal Clean Power Plan implementation strategies.

Keywords

• air pollution
• energy efficiency
• carbon dioxide
• power plant
• residential
• public health