Authors
Lucas W. Davis, Alan Fuchs, Paul Gertler
Publication date
2014
Journal
American Economic Journal: Economic Policy
Volume
6
Issue
4
Pages
207-238
Description
This paper evaluates a large-scale appliance replacement program in Mexico that from 2009 to 2012 helped 1.9 million households replace their old refrigerators and air conditioners with energy-efficient models. Using household-level billing records from the universe of Mexican residential customers, we find that refrigerator replacement reduces electricity consumption by 8 percent, about one-quarter of what was predicted by ex ante analyses. Moreover, we find that air conditioning replacement actually increases electricity consumption. Overall, we find that the program is an expensive way to reduce externalities from energy use, reducing carbon dioxide emissions at a program cost of over $500 per ton. (JEL L68, L94, O12, O13, Q41, Q54)
Scholar articles
LW Davis, A Fuchs, P Gertler - American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2014
L Davis, A Fuchs, P Gertler - Unpublished manuscript, 2012
L Davis, A Fuchs, P Gertler - Economic Policy, 2014
L Davis, A Fuchs, P Gertler - 2012
L Davis, A Fuchs, P Gertler - 2012