Interactive Labs

Energy Lab

Lessons > Energy Efficiency > Introduction

In the first lesson we assume no increase in energy efficiency. In this lesson, think about how much more efficiency you think is reasonable to expect from people and technology. You'll be able to introduce improvements in energy efficiency in the Advanced Options button (adding to the energy efficiency change subtracts from the energy demand change). There is also hope that carbon can be captured from coal–burning power plants and stored. If you believe that this technology will be realized some time in the next few decades, you can turn that option on in the advanced options as well. Finally, in this lesson, you can make your own decisions about which "yellow" limits you're going to heed. For example, if you believe that new solar panel technology could allow solar to expand faster, you can choose to ignore any yellow limits, keeping in mind the assumptions you are making in so doing.