To What End? A Conceptual Framework for the Analysis of Energy Use

A clear conceptual framework in which one can adequately understand the process by which energy is used in the economy is not yet available. Over the past 15 years, energy input-output analysis and the end-use approach to energy modelling have emerged as useful analytic tools. There is, however, a need to integrate these frameworks into a coherent and comprehensive whole. This paper provides an initial formulation of such an integrated framework, defines efficiency measures relating to it, and evaluates the usefulness of this approach for energy demand modelling and forecasting.