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Water heating typically accounts for approximately 19 percent of total home energy use in the U.S. This guide outlines immediate low-cost efficiency improvements, such as lowering thermostat settings to 115–120°F and insulating tanks, alongside long-term equipment upgrades. It compares the economics of various water heaters, noting that demand (tankless) heaters and heat pumps offer significant efficiency gains over standard electric tanks. The document also details solar thermal options and drain-water heat recovery systems, which can capture heat from water that would otherwise be wasted.

The report examines the business relationship between South Africa and Nigeria, highlighting the opportunities presented by Nigeria's large market and the significant hurdles faced by investors. Key challenges include systemic corruption, poor infrastructure—particularly in the power sector—and a lack of policy predictability. While the report notes that the return to democracy in 1999 and the introduction of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) have improved the investment climate, it emphasizes that Nigeria remains a high-risk environment. The document also details the specific impact of South African firms like MTN and the broader economic landscape, including the dominance of the oil and gas sector and the emerging 'new economy' driven by the Nigerian diaspora.

The report examines the business environment in Nigeria from the perspective of South African investors, highlighting the tension between the country's massive market potential and its systemic structural failures. While the return to democracy in 1999 and the introduction of the National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy (NEEDS) have improved foreign direct investment (FDI) and political stability, South African firms continue to face high costs due to poor infrastructure, rampant corruption, and unpredictable policy-making. The document details the success of companies like MTN and the failures of others like Vodacom, while providing specific policy recommendations for both the Nigerian and South African governments to foster a more stable and transparent bilateral economic relationship.

The report evaluates a 'Power Switch' scenario for Japan's power sector, which emphasizes renewable energy, natural gas substitution for coal, energy efficiency, and a gradual nuclear phase-out. Compared to a Business As Usual (BAU) scenario, the Power Switch approach could reduce 2020 GHG emissions by 31%, avoiding nearly 2.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent between 2000 and 2020. The net cost of this transition is estimated at 1.1 trillion yen over the period, or 850 JPY per tonne of CO2 equivalent, largely offset by reduced fuel import costs.

Amory B. Lovins challenges the claim that a U.S. hydrogen economy requires a fourfold expansion of nuclear power. He argues that fuel cells will accelerate the decline of nuclear power by providing cheaper energy services. Lovins asserts that the hydrogen needs for the U.S. highway vehicle fleet could be met by wind turbines in North and South Dakota, and that an orderly transition to hydrogen would require less capital, land, and fossil fuels than a business-as-usual oil-based scenario. He further contends that wind power is more cost-competitive than new nuclear plants and that distributed energy resources offer greater economic value than centralized power stations.

The document argues that the World Bank Group's (WBG) policies of privatization and structural adjustment in the extractive industries (EI) often prioritize foreign investment over the rights of local communities and environmental protection. It highlights systemic failures in applying safeguard policies for indigenous peoples, the marginalization of women, and the persistence of 'legacy' environmental and human rights abuses. The text calls for a transition toward renewable energy, the adoption of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), and the implementation of mandatory transparency mechanisms for revenues to mitigate poverty and corruption.

The report examines subsidies within the Southern African Customs Union (SACU), focusing on South Africa's manufacturing, agriculture, and energy sectors. It finds that most domestic incentives are WTO-compliant, though the Duty Credit Certification Scheme for textiles is an exception. The agricultural sector has seen significant deregulation since the 1980s, resulting in low Producer Support Estimates (PSE) for most commodities. However, the region remains vulnerable to foreign subsidies, particularly the EU's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) and the U.S. Farm Bill, which distort markets for sugar and beef. In the energy sector, South Africa's heavy reliance on coal creates high carbon intensity and a lack of incentives for renewable energy due to low coal prices.

Following the death of Jonas Savimbi in February 2002, the Angolan government and UNITA signed a cease-fire agreement on April 4, 2002. While the document notes a 'window of opportunity' for peace and economic growth, it highlights severe structural challenges, including a collapsed health and education system, destroyed infrastructure, and a dysfunctional formal economy. Despite these hurdles, the report identifies significant investment potential in oil, natural gas, road and rail reconstruction, and agriculture.

The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States can meet 20% of its electricity needs via renewables by 2020, saving consumers $440 billion and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by two-thirds compared to business-as-usual forecasts. The report suggests this approach would avoid the need for 975 new power plants and significantly decrease reliance on coal and natural gas.

The authors oppose a proposal by Colorado State Representative Carl Miller to increase coal use, arguing that coal plants are expensive, polluting, and slow to implement. They propose a transition toward energy efficiency, which could save up to 70% of current electricity use, and distributed energy resources including wind, solar, bio-fuels, and fuel cells. The text highlights the success of wind energy programs in Colorado, such as those by Holy Cross Energy and Public Service Company, as evidence of the viability of a free-market approach to clean energy.

The author contends that nuclear power has suffered a historic industrial collapse due to capital cost escalations and technical failures, making it uncompetitive against cheaper alternatives. The report highlights end-use efficiency as the most potent competitor, noting that well-designed industrial retrofits can save electricity at costs as low as $0.005/kWh. Other viable alternatives mentioned include combined-cycle gas turbines, wind power, and proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells. The author further argues that moving away from civilian nuclear commerce would reduce the risk of nuclear bomb proliferation by making the acquisition of 'bomb-kit ingredients' more conspicuous. Finally, the text asserts that nuclear power exacerbates global warming by displacing more cost-effective energy-saving options, thereby increasing the opportunity cost of climate mitigation.

The document consists of email correspondence and letters between Amory Lovins (RMI) and Mark Mills (science advisor to the Greening Earth Society) following a Forbes article by Mills and Peter Huber. Mills argued that the Internet's energy demand is growing exponentially and will require significant continued reliance on coal-fired power. Lovins, supported by scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, challenged these claims as 'junk science,' arguing that Mills grossly overstated the power consumption of individual devices (PCs and routers) and ignored efficiency gains. The exchange concludes with Lovins accusing Mills of failing to respond to specific technical rebuttals and violating professional ethics by publishing private correspondence.

The report analyzes China's energy system, which was heavily coal-dependent in 1990, and projects environmental loadings up to 2020. It compares a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario with two enhanced environmental scenarios, demonstrating that while BAU leads to significant increases in SO2 and CO2 emissions, targeted policy interventions in energy mix, efficiency, and clean coal technology can mitigate these impacts. The study recommends shifting toward hydropower, nuclear power, and natural gas, alongside the implementation of pollution levies and integrated planning to achieve sustainable development.

The SEI/UNEP Fuel Chain Project developed a methodology and software tool within the LEAP/EDB system to assess the full life-cycle environmental impacts of energy resources. By analyzing the 'chain' from extraction to end-use, the project aims to provide a more comprehensive comparison of fuel options than site-specific assessments. Case studies in Sri Lanka and Venezuela were used to validate the tool, focusing on biomass, coal, natural gas, and petroleum. In Sri Lanka, biomass was found to be environmentally superior to coal for electricity generation, while LPG was cleaner than biomass for household cooking. In Venezuela, natural gas was preferred over residual fuel oil for electricity, but its advantage over diesel for transport was mixed due to methane emissions and lower vehicle efficiency.

The AES Corporation, an independent power producer, faced a conflict between its strategy of using low-cost coal for electricity generation and its commitment to social responsibility, specifically regarding greenhouse gas emissions. For its Thames plant in Connecticut, which was projected to emit over 15 million tons of carbon over 40 years, the company evaluated four offset alternatives: promoting energy conservation through lighting retrofits, employing carbon scrubbing technology, implementing reforestation projects in tropical developing countries, or shifting its long-term strategy toward natural gas and renewables. While natural gas and renewables offered lower emissions, they presented higher operating costs or intermittency issues. Reforestation was identified as a cost-effective method to sequester carbon while providing additional social benefits.

The AES Corporation partnered with the World Resources Institute and CARE to fund a reforestation project in Guatemala to offset carbon dioxide emissions from its Thames power plant. The project aimed to plant 52 million trees over ten years to sequester 19 million tons of carbon, leveraging a $2 million AES grant into $14.5 million of total funding. While the initiative received mixed press and investor reactions, it aligned with the company's corporate value of social responsibility. Subsequently, AES established a Sustainability Task Force in 1991, which concluded that the company should hedge its portfolio by developing natural gas projects alongside coal to address long-term economic and environmental sustainability.

The report analyzes four energy scenarios for the US up to 2030: a Reference case, a Market case, an Environmental case, and a Climate Stabilization case. It finds that shifting toward efficiency and renewables can lead to net economic savings of up to $2.3 trillion and dramatic reductions in CO2 emissions. The authors propose a comprehensive policy framework based on harnessing market forces, establishing efficiency standards, and increasing R&D investment to move the US away from its current reliance on polluting fossil fuels.

The document reports that a majority of the Polish public considers energy security the most critical energy-related issue, viewing the transition to renewable energy as a means to enhance national security and reduce reliance on foreign natural gas imports from both Russia and the US.

The document examines how Mozambique's vast natural gas reserves, particularly in the Rovuma Basin, have failed to translate into sustainable development, instead contributing to regional inequality, corruption, and civil unrest in Cabo Delgado. It analyzes the 'enclave' nature of extractive projects and the country's severe debt crisis, including the 'Tuna Bonds' scandal. The brief also addresses the gendered impacts of the energy sector and the challenges of transitioning to a just energy future while managing critical minerals like graphite.

The report examines how Tanzania's extractive industries, particularly natural gas and gold, have created economic enclaves and contributed to a 'sub-national resource curse' in regions like Mtwara and Lindi. It analyzes the country's rising debt-to-GDP ratio, which grew from 28% to 40% in four years, and the role of resource-backed loans from China for infrastructure like the Standard Gauge Railway. While Tanzania possesses significant renewable energy potential in solar, wind, and hydropower, the report notes a continued reliance on fossil fuels and a lack of gender-sensitive policies in the energy sector. It concludes with recommendations to diversify the economy, strengthen governance, and develop a domestic downstream sector for critical minerals.