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National Energy Policy

National policies to improve energy efficiency are critical to job creation and economic development, reducing oil imports, improving the reliability of the electric grid, lowering energy prices, and addressing climate change and air pollution. Federal legislation, as carried out by the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies, provides essential nationwide energy efficiency programs such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards, ENERGY STAR® labels, tax incentives, technical assistance, and research and development of new technologies.

How Energy Efficiency Helps

Energy efficiency helps people use less energy to meet their energy needs in their homes, offices, factories, and cars and trucks (see our “primer”). Efficiency has many benefits. Saving energy:

Saves families money in utility bills and at the gas pump, while giving them more control over their energy use (fact sheet)
Makes businesses more competitive and creates jobs (fact sheet)
Reduces pollution and improves our health (fact sheet)

 
Policy Briefs

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 positions on key energy efficiency issues.

Energy Efficiency in the Clean Power Plan

Looking for a smart way to comply with the Clean Power Plan? Implement energy efficiency measures in your state to achieve significant cost-effective reductions of greenhouse gas emissions while benefitting consumers. Access a wealth of resources including planning tools, webinars, and research publications. Reach out to us for assistance.

International Scorecard

The International Energy Efficiency Scorecard ranks countries on their national commitment to energy efficiency as well as their efficiency policies and performance in the buildings, industry, and transportation sectors.

National Level Metrics for US Energy Efficiency

ACEEE tracks several indicators on energy efficiency at the national level in the United States. This dedicated web page shows energy efficiency trends by end-use sectors including buildings, industry, transportation, and utilities, as well as overall energy productivity. The page will be updated as new data become available.

Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS)

An Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) establishes 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...

Air Emissions Regulations

Over the next decade a host of federal air regulations will update limits on the emissions of multiple pollutants from stationary sources such as power plants and industrial facilities. These air regulations create a demand for low-cost and...

Climate Change Policy

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...

Federal Funding

Proposed federal budget cuts are targeting successful energy efficiency initiatives such as Department of Energy (DOE) research and the ENERGY STAR® program. Protecting these programs is a priority for ACEEE. Federal...

Utility Regulation and Policy

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...

Building Codes

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...

Appliance Standards

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...

Retrofits

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...

Car and Light Truck Fuel Economy

Fuel economy standards for light-duty vehicles have improved dramatically in recent years. The original Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for cars were adopted in 1975 and went unchanged for 35 years. On April 1st, 2010 the U.S...

Tax Reform

  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...

  • Proposed Legislation
    2016 Energy Bills There has been plenty of activity on energy efficiency in the US Congress lately. Introduced in September 2015, The Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2016 (S.2012) was passed in the Senate in April 2016. The bill contains...
  • Laws
    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...
  • Past Legislation
    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 Power Act of...

Related Publications

Natural Gas Energy Efficiency: Progress and Opportunities
Research Report - 07/19/2017
Testimony for the House Energy and Water Development Appropriations Subcommittee
Testimony - 05/05/2017
Combined Heat and Power and Clean Distributed Energy Policies
Policy Brief - 12/13/2016
Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS)
Policy Brief - 12/13/2016
View More

Related Items

Natural Gas Energy Efficiency: Progress and Opportunities
Document - 7/19/2017
Budget ax threatens manufacturing program that puts America first
Blog - 6/15/2017
Making America inefficient: the budget’s gory details
Blog - 5/24/2017
ACEEE Statement: Proposed FY18 Budget Would Kill Jobs by Targeting Energy Efficiency Programs
Press Release - 5/23/2017
View All