What's Your Superpower? On Oct. 2, Let's All Show Off Our Strength By Getting More From Less

We all have the power to save energy and today’s technology providers make it easier than ever to make a big difference. Whether you want to save money on your home energy bills, improve building comfort, reduce office, commercial and industrial costs, drive U.S. economic growth and jobs, or make a significant dent in harmful emissions, energy efficiency (EE) is a superpower we can all tap right now.

That’s why AEE is supporting the fourth annual national Energy Efficiency Day on Oct. 2 and encouraging you to join us. Working with national and regional EE colleagues, we are taking this fall day to highlight all the benefits of EE, shed light on enabling technologies, share valuable, cost-saving tips, and make it fun.

Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same, if not better, energy performance. Most of us think of EE technologies, like installing better insulation, LED lighting and high-efficiency ENERGY STAR® appliances, higher-rated heating and cooling equipment. Today, retail consumers and commercial building managers alike employ sophisticated energy management systems, internet-connected thermostats, and data analytics, often through a program offered by their utility. 

At AEE, we focus on advancing policies that allow EE and other advanced energy technologies to compete on price and performance. Since last year’s #EEDay we have seen many positive developments around the nation:

• EE Means Big Business, Jobs: EE is the largest segment of global and U.S. advanced energy markets, and it’s growing steadily. In the U.S., building efficiency accounted for $83 billion in revenue in 2018, and now employs more than 2.3 million workers.
• New Utility Incentives Spur Energy Savings: More regulators are looking at performance-based regulation to encourage utilities to offer customers positive incentives. For example, in Oklahoma, proper incentives have given utilities a business reason to save customers money, and Baltimore Gas & Electric has leveraged behavioral demand response to pay customers to save energy when it matters most.
• States Expand EE Investment: Today, California, Hawaii, Maine, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Virginia, Washington state, and Washington, D.C. have targets to reach 100% clean electricity by 2050, which includes EE. In Virginia, the legislature’s new grid transformation law calls for utilities to invest nearly $1 billion in EE.
• Corporate Demand is Up: Besides visible efforts to procure renewable energy, companies large and small are investing in EE to save money and reach corporate sustainability goals. For example, AEE member Cummins implemented a number of EE programs and saves $40-$50 million annually. The Dept. of Energy’s Better Buildings Program shares tips, case studies and resources to help.
  

But we all have a role and that’s what #EEDay2019 is all about. Here’s all you need to get started:

• Learn more at the Energy Efficiency Day website
• Sign up to be a supporter here.
• Use #EEDay2019 on social channels to share EE tips, case studies, examples.
• Join an #EEDay2019 Twitter storm tomorrow morning, and play @MEEAee’s creative EE game beginning at 12noon CT
• Take EE steps yourself at home, office or school.

So, plan to participate! You’ll be in great company spreading the power of EE with this year’s record-breaking 500+ supporters — a broad range of organizations from businesses, utilities, universities, local governments, and nonprofits. Many cities and states have issued proclamations and resolutions to put the spotlight on EE.

Even the United States Senate came together to issue the bipartisan Resolution 347 recognizing EE Day “in celebration of the economic and environmental benefits that have been driven by private sector innovation and federal energy efficiency policies” and calling “on the people of the United States to observe Energy Efficiency Day with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities.”

So power up by powering down and show us your EE superpowers on Oct. 2 – and every day!