Message from the Executive Director

Over our 24 years, much has been accomplished. Among ACEEE's most notable contributions were spearheading state and federal adoption of efficiency standards for more than two dozen products and assisting many states and utilities in designing energy efficiency programs. The standards that we helped develop saved consumers and businesses about $50 billion on a cumulative basis from 1990–2000, and utility-sector energy efficiency programs are currently saving approximately 60 billion kilowatt-hour (kWh) annually (enough to power about 5 million average American homes).

ACEEE is a major source of energy efficiency information for consumers, energy professionals, and policymakers. We produce three major consumer guides, have prepared more than 250 reports, and developed policy recommendations that were signed into law by Presidents Reagan and Bush (I) and included in energy and environmental plans developed by the Clinton and Bush (II) Administrations.

But much work remains to be done. Growth in U.S. energy demand has slowed, but energy use continues to increase. Energy prices have both risen and become increasingly volatile, which is adversely affecting energy-intensive industries as well as household budgets. The United States is out of compliance with its commitments under the Rio Protocol (agreed to by President Bush in 1992). Oil imports now account for about 60 percent of U.S. oil consumption, and domestic oil refineries are straining to meet the demand for gasoline and other fuels. Medical research continues to document the adverse health effects of air emissions from high levels of fossil fuel consumption.

A greater commitment to energy efficiency is needed in order to reduce our reliance on imported energy, reduce our exposure to high and volatile energy prices (demand reductions can convert a "sellers market" into a "buyers market"), improve our economy (as money saved from efficiency improvements is spent, jobs are created), and help protect our environment. Work is needed at the federal level, but with the gridlock in Washington, we see state and local policies and programs as being more important than ever.

In the following pages we discuss our major programs and objectives. Working together with other organizations and individuals, ACEEE seeks to address the challenges noted above, building on our past accomplishments. We look forward to working with you in this important cause.