Integrative Design: A Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to Investments in Energy Efficiency

This research paper outlines the principle of integrative design, which applies engineering principles to optimize whole systems for multiple benefits rather than focusing on individual components. The author argues that this approach can lead to energy and resource efficiency gains that are significantly larger and more cost-effective than conventional methods, potentially resulting in expanding returns on investment.

• Integrative design utilizes orthodox engineering principles but alters the design logic by asking different questions to achieve significantly higher levels of resource and energy efficiency.
• By optimizing entire systems for multiple benefits instead of treating components as disjunct for single benefits, efficiency gains in buildings, industry, and vehicles can be cheaper and larger than conventional expectations.
• Integrative design can reverse the typical trend of diminishing returns in energy efficiency investments, potentially making order-of-magnitude energy savings less expensive than achieving small or no savings.

APA

RMI (2010). Integrative Design: A Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to Investments in Energy Efficiency. https://rmi.org/resources/integrative-design-a-disruptive-source-of-expanding-returns-to-investments-in-energy-efficiency/

Chicago

RMI. Integrative Design: A Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to Investments in Energy Efficiency. 2010. https://rmi.org/resources/integrative-design-a-disruptive-source-of-expanding-returns-to-investments-in-energy-efficiency/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=RMI |title=Integrative Design: A Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to Investments in Energy Efficiency |date=17 May 2010 |url=https://rmi.org/resources/integrative-design-a-disruptive-source-of-expanding-returns-to-investments-in-energy-efficiency/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rmi2010integrative, author = {{RMI}}, title = {{Integrative Design: A Disruptive Source of Expanding Returns to Investments in Energy Efficiency}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2010}, month = may, url = {https://rmi.org/resources/integrative-design-a-disruptive-source-of-expanding-returns-to-investments-in-energy-efficiency/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }