DOE and EPA release an Energy Efficiency Action Plan for states

The DOE and the EPA released an updated version of the National Action Plan Vision for 2025: A Framework for Change. The plan lays out a proposed energy efficiency action plan for state policy makers.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff November 25, 2008

The DOE and the EPA released an updated version of the National Action Plan Vision for 2025 : A Framework for Change. The plan lays out a proposed energy efficiency action plan for state policy makers. If implemented, the proposed plan will lower energy demand across the country by 50%; achieve more than $500 billion in net savings over the next 20 years; and reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that from 90 million vehicles.

The report , released under the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency initiative, was produced by more than 60 energy, environmental, and state policy leaders across the country. The updated plan stresses investment in low-cost energy efficiency programs and makes public, the progress the states are making toward their goals. Accompanied by two technical assistance documents, the additional material in the report offers cost-effectiveness tests for energy efficiency programs and best practices for providing data to businesses.

More than 120 organizations have endorsed the original recommendations of the action plan. In terms of policy, about one-third of states have established energy savings targets and addressed utility disincentives for energy efficiency, while about half have established energy efficiency programs for key classes of customers and have reviewed and undated their building codes.