Amongst the problems with energy efficiency upgrades is the
little issue of money. Even though the projects will ultimately
save a city, business or household money over the long haul,
it’s tough to get people to invest the money upfront, if they
even have it to begin with. Experts in the field often note that
the right financing schemes could unlock millions and likely
billions in energy savings in the coming decades. But a report
from Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, "The Limits of
Financing for Energy Efficiency," refutes that claim. It does
not assert that financing doesn’t matter, but there’s a whole
lot more that needs to be right than just a financing model to
move the industry forward. “If you were an economically rational
robot, you’d do it,” said lead author Merrian Borgeson, a
researcher in the Electricity Markets and Policy Group at
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. “But people aren’t like
that.” The paper primarily looked at the limits of financing in
residential scenarios, but also poi