Many still fail to appreciate the huge potential for using energy more efficiently, which is probably the best way to reduce carbon emissions. In the Boston Consulting Group’s report The Energy Efficiency Opportunity: Winning Strategies for a High-Growth Market , which was published in May, we calculate potential energy savings of 200 megatons of oil equivalent (Mtoe) in the U.S., which is equal to 20% of annual energy demand. In Europe, we project that energy-efficiency technologies will represent a market worth approximately €30 billion ($38.2 billion) by 2020. The most robust growth will be in countries with high energy prices, determined regulators, stable regulatory environments, and established energy-efficiency markets. Some important challenges remain in the residential market, however. One challenge is that consumers perceive energy-efficiency projects as risky. They are unsure […]