Energy Efficiency

Wise Energy Use

A hundred years ago, electricity was a luxury. Today we cannot live without it. But even though we take electricity for granted, we need to remember to use it wisely. Using electricity wisely is good for the environment, saves money in your home and business, and keeps our nation's electricity supply more reliable.

Energy Saving Tips

You can take simple steps to make your home and business more energy efficient. The following information offers you a number of low- or no-cost energy saving tips to help you become a wise energy consumer.

• How to Save Electricity in Your Home
• How to Save Electricity in Your Business

Support for the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency

The nation’s electric utility industry recognizes that energy efficiency is a crucial part of the solution to today’s volatile energy prices and formidable environmental challenges.  The National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency will help to invigorate the country’s efforts to conserve and use energy more wisely.

The National Action Plan was facilitated by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, with the participation of electric utilities, public utility commissions, energy consumers, and non-governmental groups.  The National Action Plan’s blueprint of options to consider sets a broad course for encouraging greater energy efficiency investment in the United States.  

• National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency
  Learn more about the Plan's broad recommendations for energy efficiency.
• News Release
  Read EEI's news release outlining the steps the electric power industry will take to implement the National Action Plan.
• Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs)
  Learn how PHEVS will help our nation become more energy efficient.

Electric Company Energy Efficiency Programs and Success Stories

Electric company energy efficiency programs help homes and businesses to get more value from their energy dollar.  The industry also offers its low-income customers a variety of special programs and services.  Beside their economic benefits, all of these programs help to keep the the electric system reliable and they even benefit the environment.   Each year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy recognizes a number of these programs with an ENERGY STAR® award.

• Programs and Incentives
  Learn more about the programs that can help you.
• ENERGY STAR® Awards
  Read about this year's winning electric company programs.
• Success Stories
  Discover the many innovative ways that electric companies are helping homes and businesses to get more value from every dollar they spend on electricity.

Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI)/Smart Grid

AMI, along with new rate designs, will provide consumers with the ability to use electricity more efficiently and provide utilities with the ability to detect problems on their systems and operate them more efficiently—ultimately improving reliability and saving money for consumers. Learn more.

EEI Resources

• State Regulatory Update: Energy Efficiency, February 2008
  Summary and trend analysis of state regulatory actions on energy efficiency for 2005-07.

Additional Energy-Saving Resources

• IRS Residential Energy Credits Form 5695 
  Residential consumers who purchased a high-efficiency appliance (that qualified for the tax credit) in 2006, or installed new insulation or doors or windows in 2006 should use this income tax form. 
• Tax Credits for Homeowners 
  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 was signed into law on August 8, 2005. It includes tax credits for many types of home improvements including adding insulation, replacement windows, and certain high efficiency heating and cooling equipment.

• Tax Credits for Home Builders
  Home builders are eligible for tax credits as well, including a $2,000 tax credit for building a new energy efficient home that achieves 50 percent energy savings for heating and cooling over the 2003 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and supplements. New manufactured homes also can qualify for the credit by meeting ENERGY STAR standards.

Energy Efficiency Contests

EEI has recently teamed up with some of the nation's biggest manufacturers and organizations to promote the benefits of making homes more energy efficient.

	Home Energy Blueprint Contest To raise awareness about the benefits of making homes more energy efficient, Edison Electric Institute, Whirlpool brand appliances, and Greenhomes America (along with support from Lowe's and the EPA), joined together to find 10 of America's most energy-inefficient homes and give them a home energy makeover.
	Eureka $mart House Energy-Efficiency Challenge  Inspired by the SCI FI channel's hit series "Eureka," Edison Electric Institute, the Alliance to Save Energy, and NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel launched a contest to reward one deserving homeowner with energy-efficiency improvements of up to $25,000 to make their home "smarter.

© 2008 Edison Electric Institute