Statement by Steven Nadel, ACEEE’s executive director
Happy Energy Efficiency Day! For this fourth annual event, we hope you join us in shouting out the transformative benefits of saving energy. Energy efficiency — the heart of a clean energy future — can halve energy use and emissions by 2050 and get the United States halfway to its climate goals. Plus, it saves Americans billions of dollars each year on utility bills, supports at least 2.3 million direct jobs, and, by avoiding power plant emissions, cleans our air and prevents 30,000 asthma cases each year.
More than 525 organizations, government agencies, companies, universities, and utilities are participating in today’s event —#EEDay2019. The US Senate and at least two dozen cities, counties, and states have issued official proclamations recognizing October 2, 2019 as Energy Efficiency Day, including Boston, California, Chicago, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, DC, and Wisconsin.
Across the United States, states and cities are taking leadership on energy efficiency, as shown in yesterday’s release of our 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard and in our newly expanded 2019 City Clean Energy Scorecard. They are adopting energy-saving rules for buildings, appliances, and vehicles, some of which counter federal rollbacks of efficiency standards.
We can all do more to save energy in our everyday lives, such as turning off lights when leaving a room or replacing old light bulbs with LEDs. (See consumer tips on ACEEE’s SmarterHouse.org). We welcome your participation in Energy Efficiency Day, which is hosted by regional and national groups, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
Our goal: raise public awareness about energy efficiency — the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs and reduce heat-trapping emissions. It is the superhero our planet needs.
