Energy Efficiency

Reports

Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy
http://www.mckinsey.com/clientservice/electricpowernaturalgas/downloads/US_energy_efficiency_full_report.pdf

"The central conclusion of our work: Energy efficiency offers a vast, low-cost energy resource for the U.S. economy - but only if the nation can craft a comprehensive and innovative approach to unlock it.  Significant and persistent barriers will need to be addressed at multiple levels to stimulate demand for energy efficiency and manage its delivery across more then 100million buildings and literally billions of devices.  If executed at scale, a holistic approach would yield gross energy savings worth more than $1.2trillion, well above the $520 billion needed through 2020 for upfront investment in efficiency measures (not including program costs). Such a program is estimated to reduce end-use energy consumption in 2020 by 9.1 quadrillion BTUs, roughly 23 percent of projected demand, potentially abating up to 1.1 gigatons of greenhouse gases annually." pg.iii

Building a Better Future: Moving Toward Zero Pollution with Highly Efficient Homes and Businesses
http://www.environmentamerica.org

"With approximately 75 percent of our buildings scheduled to be new or renovated by the year 2040, we have a huge opportunity to save energy. By taking bold action to improve the energy efficiency of our nation’s buildings, we can put America on track to meet our energy challenges and reduce our global warming emissions. President Obama has announced an ambitious but achievable goal of making all new buildings zero-net-energy, or “zero energy”, by 2030. The economic recovery bill recently passed by Congress has provided some much needed momentum, by providing more than $25 billion for weatherization, and energy efficiency upgrades for commercial and government buildings." - pg.2
 

A Green Energy Alternative for Michigan
http://docs.nrdc.org/energy/files/ene_09081101b.pdf

"Michigan’s most-attractive energy choice by any measure is energy efficiency, which can be quickly implemented, save energy, make businesses more productive, lower energy bills, create jobs, avoid pollution, and keep money in Michigan. Programs that promote cost-effective efficiency make the single best energy investment available to Michigan citizens, business, and institutions. Renewable energy technologies are also attractive. These are the true 21st Century technologies." - pg.2

The Positive Economics of Climate Change Policies: What the Historical Evidence Can Tell Us
http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e095.htm

"Energy efficiency has been the cheapest and largest resource to satisfy growing demands for energy related services in the U.S. economy.  Indeed, productive investments and informed behaviors have enabled energy efficiency to meet three-fourths of the growth in new energy service demands since 1970." - pg.ii

"The economic data and the historical record suggest that:

• Energy efficiency investments can provide up to one-half of the needed greenhouse gas emissions reductions most scientists say are needed between now and the year 2050.
   
• Investments in more energy-productive technologies can also lead to a substantial net energy bill savings for the consumer and for the nation's businesses.  In the diagnostic assessment summarized in this report, savings are on the order of two trillion dollars by 2050 (measured in constant 2007 dollars)" - pg.iii

Articles, Blogs and Other Energy Related Links

8.10.09

Politicos give natural gas, efficiency top billing
http://news.cnet.com/

8.3.09

Climate Legislation Could Be a Catalyst for Energy Efficiency
www.solveclimate.com/blog