National policies to improve energy efficiency can reduce oil imports, improve the reliability of the U.S. electric grid, save consumers money, reduce air pollution, create jobs, and reduce prices. The opportunities for realizing these energy efficiency savings are distributed throughout many end-uses, from manufacturing systems to transportation choices to home appliances. Federal policies that promote efficient investment in each sector and end-use are critical to tackling climate change, economic development, and job creation. In addition, federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provide essential nationwide energy efficiency programs, like the labeling program ENERGY STAR and the data gathering work at the Energy Information Administration.
National Energy Policy
Policy Priorities
Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS) establish specific, long-term targets for energy savings that utilities or non-utility program administrators must meet through customer energy efficiency programs. An EERS can apply to either...
Energy efficiency measures have been proven by many analyses to be the most cost-effective and fast-track way to address global climate change while reducing energy usage and more affordably expanding the use of renewable energy sources. In...
The federal government can advance energy efficiency by funding programs through the appropriations process. The federal government funds numerous energy efficiency programs run out of a handful of agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE...
Investor-owned utilities (private companies with ownership shares held by stockholders) serve the majority of electricity and natural gas customers in the United States. These utilities are primarily regulated at the state level, where public...
The value of energy efficiency in properly implemented construction standards is universally recognized as the easiest and most cost-effective way to help consumers save energy and money, make housing more affordable, and reduce air pollution. All...
Minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and lighting have been one of the most successful policies used by states and the federal government to save energy. Appliance efficiency standards prohibit the production and import or sale...
America' existing housing stock offers tremendous opportunities for energy savings. However, capturing this savings potential within the established structure of the home improvement market has proven to be quite a challenge. Homeowners...
Despite technological advances, average fuel economy of new cars and light trucks has declined from its peak in 1988 and has remained below that level due to increasing vehicle size and power, the rising market share of light trucks, and the lack...
Policies to improve energy efficiency can reduce oil imports, improve the reliability of the U.S. electric grid, save consumers money, reduce air pollution, create jobs, and reduce prices. These are short policy statements about ACEEE's...
Tax reform provides us with an opportunity to remove current barriers to efficiency investments and to use the tax code as a tool to support future energy efficiency. The challenge is in proposing policies that encourage energy...
Legislation
In recent years the U.S. Congress has largely been at a stalemate, though several bills have either been proposed or are being pursued by the administration or the legislature. These proposals provide the opportunity for the U.S. to realize the...
National policies to improve energy efficiency help ensure that the U.S. is using its energy resources most effectively, thereby saving billions of dollars for taxpayers and consumers, while also creating jobs, improving energy reliability, and...
Over the years, there have been many bills containing amendments and provisions to improve energy efficiency. Below are several examples of proposed legislation that were not passed by Congress.
American Power Act of 2010
The American...
Related Publications
(Research Report - 3/18/2013)
(Testimony - 2/26/2013)
(Research Report - 2/6/2013)
Related Items
(Blog Article - 5/1/2013)
(Blog Article - 4/18/2013)
(Blog Article - 4/15/2013)
(Blog Article - 4/12/2013)
Related External Links
Gives consumers and businesses information on federal tax incentives for energy-efficient products and technologies.
National laboratory that works to address the goals of reducing petroleum consumption and enabling efficient use of primary energy resources.
Represents county governments in the US.
A library of building energy performance rating and disclosure resources. It is a joint project of the Institute for Market Transformation and NRDC.