Send an email that includes a link to this page. You can specify multiple To Addresses separated by semi-colons.
With federal carbon emissions reduction goals likely in the near future, reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere is a priority for electric utilities. In the United States today, electricity generation is responsible for 40 percent of all carbon emissions, so a combination of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy sources will be needed to meet emissions targets. But saving a kilowatt-hour via EE is a lot cheaper than generating a new one with renewable energy. Hence, the more electricity we save with EE, the more carbon we’ll reduce at the lowest possible cost. Policymakers can adopt different strategies to move the nation toward more EE. For years, electric utilities and state entities have deployed EE programs that provide rebates and incentives to encourage consumers to save energy. Equally important are energy codes and standards that mandate specific levels of EE in buildings, equipment, and appliances. Codes and standards are certainly not a new idea. Over a decade ago, the Department of Energy (DOE) claimed that “a 30-percent improvement in U.S. building efficiency would reduce energy bills by $75 billion in 15 years and eliminate the need for 80 new nuclear power plants over the next 20 years.” Twelve years later, codes and standards still have the potential to deliver impressive energy savings cost effectively. In fact, the proposed climate bill passed by the House of Representatives this past June includes code changes that support a 30-percent improvement in building efficiency immediately.
With federal carbon emissions reduction goals likely in the near future, reducing the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere is a priority for electric utilities. In the United States today, electricity generation is responsible for 40 percent of all carbon emissions, so a combination of energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy sources will be needed to meet emissions targets. But saving a kilowatt-hour via EE is a lot cheaper than generating a new one with renewable energy. Hence, the more electricity we save with EE, the more carbon we’ll reduce at the lowest possible cost.
Policymakers can adopt different strategies to move the nation toward more EE. For years, electric utilities and state entities have deployed EE programs that provide rebates and incentives to encourage consumers to save energy. Equally important are energy codes and standards that mandate specific levels of EE in buildings, equipment, and appliances. Codes and standards are certainly not a new idea. Over a decade ago, the Department of Energy (DOE) claimed that “a 30-percent improvement in U.S. building efficiency would reduce energy bills by $75 billion in 15 years and eliminate the need for 80 new nuclear power plants over the next 20 years.” Twelve years later, codes and standards still have the potential to deliver impressive energy savings cost effectively. In fact, the proposed climate bill passed by the House of Representatives this past June includes code changes that support a 30-percent improvement in building efficiency immediately.