Search Climate Insights Directory

The document details the 1984 construction of Amory Lovins's home, which utilized superinsulation, thermal mass, and passive solar design to eliminate the need for a conventional HVAC system. By focusing on functional end-uses rather than standard building codes, the design achieved a 99% reduction in space heating energy and a 90% reduction in electricity use compared to a conventional home of the same vintage. The study highlights that the capital costs of high-performance components were offset by the elimination of expensive heating equipment, resulting in a net construction cost increase of only 1% and a payback period of approximately six months based on 1983-84 prices.

The report evaluates TANESCO's rural electrification efforts, finding that while basic services like lighting and health care improved, wider economic goals—such as industrialization and deforestation reduction—were largely unmet. Technical reliability is low, particularly in diesel-supplied areas, and the program is financially unsustainable due to heavily subsidized tariffs and high operating costs. The authors recommend restructuring TANESCO's organization, revising tariff policies to reflect marginal costs, and adopting project selection criteria based on economic net present value.