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A coalition of US organisations ranging from industry associations to energy companies is calling on Congress and the next president to make energy efficiency a national priority.

In the statement, the group is calling for the US authorities to commit to energy efficiency through a range of measures, including:

• Allow energy efficiency to compete with power generation;
• Appoint a National Energy Efficiency Advocate;
• Establish worker training programmes;
• Instigate regulatory and financial incentives to make the US a leader in efficiency technologies.

“An effective strategy to spur investment in energy efficiency, involving the private sector and government, including regulatory agencies, would reap large energy savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and serve as an engine for economic development, creating millions of new jobs,” says the coalition.

According to Reid Detchon, executive director of the Energy Future Coalition who co-ordinated the call to action, “energy efficiency is the closest policy option to a silver bullet that we have.”

The coalition wants to see the rapid adoption of policy initiatives that increase the energy efficiency of buildings, power generation and distribution systems, appliances and industrial processes.

“Significant efficiency improvements already are underway, and even greater gains are possible if consumers are active partners and regulatory and other barriers can be overcome,” says Tom Kuhn, president of the Edison Electric Institute.

Energy efficiency measures could meet up to 50% of new electricity demand over the coming decade, the statement claims, according to a National Action Plan on Energy Efficiency drawn up by over 50 regulatory commissions, utilities, environmental groups and businesses.

The call for action has been endorsed by 35 organisations including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Dow Chemical Company, Duke Energy, the National Grid, the Steel Manufacturers Association and the US Green Building Council.

For further information:
www.energyfuturecoalition.org/