Across the industries it covers, G.E. estimates such efficiency opportunities at as much as $150 billion.
"We also track the company cost associated with these metrics, making it easier to identify efficiency opportunities".
An assessment of resource productivity opportunities between now and 2030 suggests that reducing food waste could return $252bn£148bnbn) in savings, the third largest of all resource efficiency opportunities identified by a McKinsey study.
This could imply a tripling or quadrupling, by 2050, of cleaner electricity sources such as renewables, nuclear or fossil fuels, along with carbon capture and storage, and the aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency opportunities.
But most businesses set targets by looking at what could be done through available low-cost energy efficiency opportunities and other reduction activities with a quick payback, such as swapping long-lasting LED lighting for electricity-gulping incandescent bulbs.
He cited estimates suggesting that an additional global investment in "efficiency opportunities" of $170 billion annually over the next 13 years "would be sufficient to cut projected global demand by at least half".
The United States is leaving a trillion dollars in energy savings on the table because we're not harvesting the energy efficiency opportunities that are right in front of us.
There are some further energy efficiency opportunities such as making planes lighter using more composite materials, more aerodynamic designs to reduce the amount of fuel needed, and alternative propulsion systems such as high-bypass turbofans and open-rotor engines.
Barclays, which raised its target price marginally from £12.30 to £12.40, said: We are constructive on S&N because we believe its transition to higher growth platforms is underappreciated by the market and that there is still upside optionality from bolt-on M&A, cost efficiency opportunities and potential industry consolidation.
[Here's more on the efficiency opportunities in the United States and a reality check on what's possible.] – Limiting the construction and use of the least-efficient coal-fired power plants delivers more than 20% of the emissions reduction and helps curb local air pollution.
