We can use less energy by conserving energy and using it more efficiently. Sign up to learn more about action you can take at home, in your community and in your state.
As energy waste goes down, savings go up
The amount of energy America is wasting is almost too big to believe. In 2017, the nation consumed 97.7 quadrillion Btus of energy, two-thirds of which was wasted. While this waste is largely caused by inefficient, non-renewable energy production systems, the ways we use energy in our homes, businesses and travels also contribute to our waste problem.
But the good news is that the path forward is clear. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) estimates that we can reduce our overall energy usage by 40 to 60 percent below current levels by midcentury, simply by using better technologies and eliminating waste across our economy.
Reducing energy use creates big savings—for our planet, our climate and our health. More efficient energy use will clean up our air and help combat climate change. As an added bonus, reducing energy consumption results in lower energy bills.
The next step in a bold vision
To meet the greatest environmental challenge of our time -- climate change -- we must shift America off of fossil fuels and toward 100 percent renewable energy. The easiest step we can take along that path is to reduce the amount of energy we need in the first place. So first things first: Let's cut our energy use and energy waste in our homes and businesses, and reduce the amount of energy we use for transportation.
Each of us can pitch in by taking action at home, at work and in our communities. At the same time, we need strong policies to ensure that we have better, more energy-efficient buildings, appliances and programs that help save energy. Environment America’s campaign for The Cleanest Energy is focused on three arenas that we think can make immediate progress:
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1. Reducing energy use in our homes and workplaces
Saving energy is a common-sense solution, and it enjoys broad support. Americans can embrace energy efficiency and conservation in our own homes and businesses — meaning we can make tangible progress in energy savings without waiting for the government to act.
From small changes, such as switching light bulbs to LEDs, to big changes, like installing solar panels on the roof, there are many ways we can begin to address energy waste and energy efficiency in our own homes.
Environment America and our national network recently created a Citizen’s Guide for Reducing Energy Waste, to help people identify the areas of their homes and businesses where energy use can be reduced.
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2. Building smarter and more efficiently
While we each must work to reduce energy use in our homes, we must also make sure that institutions, cities and states are setting and observing strong efficiency standards for their infrastructure.
Environment America and our national network's researchers and advocates are working toward a 2050 goal of reducing energy use in our nation’s buildings by half, by requiring high performance new buildings and by promoting investments in weatherization and major retrofits for existing buildings.
Environment America is working to improve building codes so that all new buildings are constructed to meet “net-zero” energy standards by 2030, meaning that every new building constructed just a decade from now will be able to produce all the energy it needs onsite, from solar panels to wind turbines.
Thomas Kelsey, U.S. Dept. of Energy Solar Decathalon
3. Improving appliance efficiency standards
Another important way to reduce energy use is to make sure that all appliances and products on the market are using energy as efficiently as possible.
Alongside our state affiliates, Environment America is calling on local and state governments to promote energy conservation and efficiency through policymaking. By winning appliance efficiency standards at the local and state levels, we can generate energy savings, reduce environmental damage and create momentum that helps other communities follow suit.
In 2019, we’ll run campaigns in 10 states to win standards that require appliances and other commonly used products and machinery to be more energy-efficient.
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