The estimated billion electric motors in operation in the United States consume more than half of the nation's electricity.  Twenty percent of motor energy is consumed in the commercial sector, primarily for space conditioning and ventilation.  Motors turn electrical energy into mechanical energy very efficiently. Nevertheless, for most motor types, a range of efficiencies is available. Because even small efficiency improvements often make economic sense for equipment operating thousands of hours per year, there remains a large overall opportunity for energy savings from more efficient motors. However, to ensure energy savings, purchasers and specifiers must be aware of both the appropriate and inappropriate application of premium-efficiency motors. For more information, see ACEEE's Energy-Efficient Motor Systems Handbook.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that greater attention to motor system management can reduce energy costs by 18 percent; other experts estimate even higher savings [Energy-Efficient Motor Systems Handbook].