Policy Strategies to Improve Energy Efficiency

What is happening? This year’s state energy efficiency policy rankings by the  American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy includes policy strategies to improve energy efficiency by:

• “Establish and adequately fund an energy efficiency resource standard (EERS) or similar energy savings target.“
• Adopt California tailpipe emissions standards and set quantitative targets for reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT).
• Ensure energy efficiency and clean energy investments and opportunities are inclusive and that benefits accrue to all communities, especially households overburdened by energy costs.
• Adopt updated energy-efficient building energy codes, improve code compliance, involve efficiency program administrators in code support, and adopt a BPS.
• Expand state-government-led initiatives and make them visible.
• Explore and promote innovative financing mechanisms to leverage private capital and lower the up-front costs of energy efficiency measures. 
• Adopt cost-effective efficiency standards for appliances, equipment, lighting, and plumbing products.