What does the term "negawatt" refer to?

The term "negawatt" refers specifically to a unit of electricity saved rather than produced. The concept was popularized by energy efficiency advocates to quantify the amount of power that can be saved through efficiency measures rather than through the generation of new energy. This highlights the importance of energy conservation as a component of sustainable energy practices. By focusing on how much electricity we can avoid using — effectively creating a "negawatt" — it emphasizes the potential for reducing consumption as a way to manage energy needs and decrease environmental impact.

In contrast, the other options do not align with this definition. The first option implies energy production rather than savings; the third suggests a device that creates energy, and the fourth relates to emissions calculation, which is unrelated to the concept of energy savings. Thus, recognizing that a negawatt is fundamentally tied to energy efficiency and conservation reinforces its significance in sustainability discussions.