The Electrification of Energy: Long-Term Trends and Opportunities (JY Tsao, EF Schubert, R Fouquet, M Lave) (SAND2017-12043 J) (MRS Energy and Sustainability 5, E7 (2018))
Three powerful long-term historical trends in the electrification of energy by free-fuel sources are presented and analyzed. These trends point toward a future in which energy is affordable, abundant, and efficiently deployed; with major economic, geo-political, and environmental benefits to humanity.
Rebound Effects for Lighting (Harry Saunders, Jeff Tsao) (SAND 2010-1559 J) (SAND 2012-5124J) (Energy Policy 49, 477-478 (2012))
In this Communication, we seek to clarify confusion regarding our 2010 Journal of Physics article on historical rebound effects for lighting, which showed that global energy use for lighting has experienced 100% rebound over 300 years, six continents, and five technologies. We argue that our results have been misunderstood by some to mean lighting efficiency gains are counterproductive, and we instead argue for vigorously promoting improved lighting technologies.
Solid-State Lighting: An Energy Economics Perspective (Jeff Tsao, Harry Saunders, Randy Creighton, Mike Coltrin, Jerry Simmons) (SAND 2010-1559J) (Journal of Physics D 43, 354001 (2010))
In this paper, we provide estimates of the potentially massive shifts due to solid-state lighting of (a) the consumption of light, (b) the human productivity and energy use associated with that consumption, and (c) the semiconductor chip area inventory and turnover required to support that consumption.
The World’s Appetite for Light: Empirical Data and Trends Spanning Three Centuries and Six Continents (Jeff Tsao, Paul Waide) (SAND 2008-4246J) (LEUKOS 6, 259-281) (Apr 2010)
In this paper, we collected and self-consistently analyzed data for per-capita consumption of artificial light, per-capita gross domestic product, and ownership cost of light. The data span a wide range (three centuries, six continents, five lighting technologies, and five orders of magnitude), and are consistent with a linear variation of per-capita consumption of light with the ratio between per-capita gross domestic product and ownership cost of light.
The Rebound Effect: An Analysis of the Empirical Data for Lighting (Jeff Tsao, Paul Waide, Harry Saunders) (Dec 2008) (SAND 2008-7959C) with notes
This talk was given at the 28th USAEE/IAEE North American Conference in New Orleans.
Some Simple Physics of Global Warming (Jeff Tsao) (March 2008) (SAND 2008-2255P) and notes
These viewgraphs are based on a tutorial lecture given for a high school physics class at the Bosque School in Albuquerque.
Basic Research Needs in Solid-State Lighting (Julie Phillips, Paul Burrows, Chairs) (October 2006)
This report is based on a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Science’s Workshop on Solid-State Lighting (SSL), May 22–24, 2006, chaired by Julie Phillips and Paul Burrows. It examines the gap separating current state-of-the-art SSL technology from an energy efficient, high-quality, and economical SSL technology suitable for general illumination; and identifies the most significant fundamental scientific challenges and research directions that would enable that gap to be bridged.
Solar FAQs (Jeff Tsao, Nate Lewis, George Crabtree) (SAND 2006-2818P) and related informal talk (SAND 2006-2821P) (April 2006)
This white paper asks and answers a series of questions regarding the potential of the sun to supply energy to the world. The questions are drawn in large part from the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Science’s recent report on Basic Research Needs in Solar Energy Utilization. The answers are given in a format suitable for a lay technical audience, and are supplemented by detailed calculations and comprehensive references.
Basic Research Needs in Solar Energy Utilization (Nate Lewis, George Crabtree, Chairs) (October 2005)
This report is based on a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Science’s Workshop on Solar Energy Utilization, April 18–21, 2005, chaired by Nate Lewis and George Crabtree. It examines the challenges and opportunities for the development of solar energy as a competitive energy source and identifies the technical barriers to large-scale implementation of solar energy and the basic research directions showing promise to overcome them.