Efficiency and Conservation: An Interview with Andy Rudin

In the United States energy efficiency industry of the past few years,1 a stronger critical voice has been emerging, one questioning the ability of energy efficiency, at least in its current form, to reduce carbon emissions or energy consumption – a concern paralleled outside of the U.S. as well.2 These concerns have been foreshadowed by many years of discussion on the topic of the rebound effect, in the economist's realm.3 However, there are other long-standing critiques of energy efficiency. One of the strongest critiques has been from Andrew Rudin, an energy consultant in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania. For nearly four decades, Mr. Rudin has been serving clients who want to reduce their energy bills. During much of this time he has also been an outspoken critic of many programs designed to increase energy efficiency, conveying his critique in the form of essays, speeches, and the web site "Efficology" (www.efficology.com), an extensive collection of quotations on efficiency. We have employed the rather exp...