When prices don’t steer – mimicking ambitious carbon pricing with energy performance standards

Jonas Sonnenschein, Jessika Luth Richter, Carl Dalhammar, Robert Van Buskirk

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingPaper in conference proceedingpeer-review

Abstract

Pricing carbon is often considered to be the cornerstone of any climate policy and, at least in economic theory, it is the only policy intervention required to reach an optimal level of mitigation. In practice, various market and behavioural failures, as well as political barriers, necessitate a policy mix that also encompasses policies to induce energy efficiency and stimulate the up-take of renewable energy sources. Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) are one group of instruments to drive energy efficiency. However, MEPS are viewed very differently by different actors; some see them as complementary to carbon pricing, while others view them as market distortion. Recent studies indicate that MEPS for appliances and vehicles are currently the best performing climate policy instruments. There is a need for more research about how MEPS and carbon pricing policies interact and how they can best be combined for an effective climate policy mix. In this paper, we examine the advantages and potential of using MEPS to drive more ambitious climate policy. We first model the market price of appliances in a UK market and how life cycle costs (LCC) shift when the social cost of carbon (SCC) is factored in. We then examine how the inclusion of the SCC affects the point at which least life cycle costs (LLCC) for an appliance class are reached. We consider carbon prices ranging from the current carbon market price to high-end estimates of SCC, and then estimate the corresponding MEPS in each scenario. Finally, we discuss the implications for mixed policy design when climate change externalities are addressed primarily through MEPS, as well as the merits of such a policy approach.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationeceee 2017 Summer Study Proceedings
Subtitle of host publicationConsumption, efficiency and limits
PublisherEuropean Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ECEEE)
Pages419-428
ISBN (Electronic)9789198387810
ISBN (Print)9789198387803
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Publication series

Nameeceee ... summer study proceedings
Publishereceee Secretariat
ISSN (Print)1653-7025
ISSN (Electronic)2001-7960

Subject classification (UKÄ)

  • Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Free keywords

  • minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)
  • climate policy
  • policy-mix
  • life cycle cost (LCC)
  • carbon tax
  • social cost of carbon

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  • MEPS as climate policy

    Sonnenschein, J., Richter, J. L. & Dalhammar, C., 2018

    Research output: Other contributionWeb publication/Blog postPopular science

    Open Access
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