Energy Efficiency Improvements and Climate Change

In 18 65, economist william stanley jevans published a book called the coal question. He argued that innovation in efficiency would actually increase the overall consumption of coal - rather than reducing it. This then dubbed the jevens paradox, is still very much worth considering when we discuss efficiency gains and policies to reduce energy use. In modern terms, we describe the process by which potential energy savings can be cut by greater use of the energy efficient product as the rebound effect.