Energy efficiency policy is the smartest and fastest way to address the energy challenges facing the nation. Making a major federal investment in energy efficiency today can put people back to work, spur economic development, and save consumers and businesses money, while positioning the United States to be a leader in the green economy.

The potential of efficiency to generate these benefits is both enormous and largely untapped. We have the opportunity to address many of America’s energy and economic challenges by making efficiency a top policy priority, not just another option.

Successful small energy efficiency programs implemented by the states have shown that energy efficiency policies work and have paved the way for a large-scale federal effort. Many of America’s most successful companies support strong energy efficiency policies and have already made great strides in saving money and creating new jobs by putting energy efficiency into action.

If, for example, Congress adopted a national EERS designed to reduce electricity demand by 15 percent and natural gas demand by 10 percent, by 2020:

• Energy consumers would save $1.2 trillion on their utility bills
• 570,000 new permanent, high-quality jobs would be created
• 262 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions a year would be prevented
• The need to build 390 polluting power plants would be eliminated.

For more details, see:

Energy Efficiency Creates Jobs and Spurs Economic Development

Energy Efficiency Saves Money and Reduces the Cost of Climate Legislation