Energy Efficiency Progress: What We’ve Gained in 35 Years and Where We Are Going

I posted recently in a discussion filed under Studies/Surveys after reading an article about a study analyzing what has happened in the sector of energy efficiency in the past 35 years called, “Energy Efficiency in the United States: 35 Years and Counting by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy”.

The first thought that comes to mind is, where did that number thirty five come from? Who determined when energy efficiency suddenly became a concern of the modern world? After a little research I found that the phrase, “energy efficiency” comes into play during 1974. Then a few short years later in 1980, energy efficiency researchers formed the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and that’s where our count-up begins.

So what was in the report anyway? Well, a lot of truly incredible things. For one, you have $2,500 more dollars in your pocket today because of the energy efficiency progress over the last 35 years in the United States. Also, despite gross domestic product (GDP) increasing by 149 percent from 1980 through 2014, energy use only went up 29 percent.

Energy efficiency is a $10 trillion opportunity that will greatly lower America's energy bills, so what can we do in the next 35 years to take advantage of that opportunity?

We are facing an energy crisis. No matter what your stance is on global warming or foreign oil dependency, there is no denying that the materials we have been using to make energy all these years are very quickly depleting and we need an alternative. I truly believe that we can find a sustainable, renewable alternative. However, we need to learn how we can use less energy to accomplish necessary tasks.  And I don’t just mean using less energy to turn on and off light bulbs. I mean using less energy to heat and cool our homes, to insulate our buildings, to use less but do more.

What are your thoughts on this report? How can green builders use energy efficiency to save building owners money and use less? Where do you think we are going in our energy efficiency future?

Chelsea Wolgel

To see the original discussion: http://www.rateitgreen.com/green-building-community/discussions/general/energy-efficiency-progress-what-we-ve-gained-in-35-years/785

Energy Efficiency Progress Article- What We’ve Gained in 35 Years:

http://energyefficiencymarkets.com/energy-efficiency-progress-what-weve-gained-in-35-years/

To read the report: http://aceee.org/energy-efficiency-united-states-35-years-and - http://aceee.org/energy-efficiency-united-states-35-years-and