A new report quantifies the powerful impact of energy efficiency across key sectors of the American economy and demonstrates how efficiency investments reduce carbon emissions, lower energy bills, and improve public health.
The 2023 Energy Efficiency Impact Report, released by the Alliance to Save Energy, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE), quantifies recent progress on energy efficiency and points to critical opportunities ahead as consumers face increasing energy costs.
The second edition of the report underlines that efficiency investments since 1980 have reduced annual energy expenditures in the United States by nearly $800 billion and driven down energy consumption per household by 16 percent. By prioritizing energy-efficiency investments through implementation of recently passed federal legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act, states and federal agencies can cut energy costs for American families, improve energy resilience, and reduce carbon emissions.
“We’ve reduced energy waste dramatically for years, but in the face of the climate crisis and rising energy costs, we have so much more to do,” said ACEEE Executive Director Steven Nadel. “This report shows that we can build on our progress with energy efficiency to make an even bigger impact ahead. The recent federal climate law gives everyone from state and local officials to businesses to individual households a huge opportunity to cut costs and emissions through efficiency.”
The report underscores the powerful impact of energy efficiency as a driver of economic development and job creation. Through investments in energy efficiency since 1970, the U.S. has decoupled energy consumption and economic growth—increasing energy productivity by 170 percent. Today, 40 percent of all energy jobs in the U.S. relate to energy efficiency—totaling 2.2 million workers in 2021. The report also reinforces energy efficiency as a key climate solution: in 2021, the U.S. would have produced 78 percent higher carbon emissions without the energy-efficiency investments already in place.
“This report showcases both the progress that has been made and the promise of what is possible when it comes to energy efficiency,” said Paula Glover, President of the Alliance to Save Energy. “Whether it’s reducing carbon emissions, decreasing American’s energy bills, increasing grid reliability, or a host of other benefits, energy efficiency has proven to be a dramatically under-appreciated and powerful resource.”
The Energy Efficiency Impact Report outlines specific opportunities to further cost savings and emissions reduction through energy efficiency, such as adopting stronger energy codes for new buildings and building performance standards for existing ones. Further adoption of industrial efficiency measures can continue to drive down costs for firms, and residential efficiency programs can increase the comfort and affordability of homes. Emerging technologies such as zero-emission transit buses and zero-net-energy buildings are still in the early phases of adoption but will play a role in advancing an equitable and low-carbon future.
“As American families face winter storms and rising home energy costs, energy efficiency is a critical resilience solution that reduces the potential of blackouts and improves energy security,” said BCSE President Lisa Jacobson. “This report reveals that investments in energy efficiency lead to real and cost-effective improvements for energy reliability, emissions reductions, and affordability. Prioritizing energy efficiency is central to advancing the energy transition in America and meeting our climate goals.”
Other notable findings from the report include:
- More than 60 percent of low-income households in the U.S. face a high energy burden, with some paying more than 20 percent of their income on utility bills.
- Investments in energy efficiency have driven down energy consumption per household by approximately 16 percent.
- Energy-efficiency investments have reduced today’s energy expenditures by approximately $800 billion, and federal funding for energy-efficiency programs has increased by 61 percent in the last decade.
- Utility investments in energy efficiency have grown, achieving 16 percent more electricity savings and 94 percent more gas savings in 2020 than in 2011.
The Energy Efficiency Impact Report, first published in 2019, features up-to-date figures on energy-efficiency investments and impacts across the buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors.
