Support the Alliance: A Testimonial by the Natural Resources Defense Council
This article was written by Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke in support of the Alliance and its mission to create an energy-efficient world. If you would like to support the Alliance, join our giving campaign.
Energy efficiency is the fastest, cheapest, biggest and cleanest weapon we have for combating global warming. Every kilowatt hour of energy we save is a kilowatt hour we don't have to produce at a coal-fired, natural gas or nuclear power plant. This means less pollution entering our atmosphere and disrupting our climate.
Energy-saving measures – such as weatherizing homes, using appliances that run on less energy and installing efficient heating and cooling systems – cost a fraction of what it would take to build new power plants to produce the same amount of electricity. And once efficiency solutions are in place, they generate savings for years to come in the form of lower monthly utility bills for homeowners and businesses alike.
Too often, however, the benefits of energy efficiency remain hidden in plain sight. People don't realize the enormous potential America has to become more efficient and save more money.
That is where the Alliance to Save Energy comes in. The Alliance broadcasts the power of efficiency to cut costs and help reduce our nation's dependence on dirty, outdated fossil fuels. It does so with the voices of Congressmembers from both major parties and a diverse coalition of its Associates – businesses, states, consumers and environmental advocates – speaking both to insiders in Washington and the public through its programs and the media.
The Alliance tells businesses how quickly investments in energy efficiency pay for themselves. It talks with utilities about why encouraging efficiency – and not just selling kilowatts of power – is good for the bottom line. It provides policy makers with data about how many jobs are created in America as a result of efficiency measures. And it shows lawmakers how efficiency can help America achieve energy independence.
The Alliance has a unique ability to influence decision makers. Not only does it have decades of experience analyzing and advocating for efficiency, but it is also the only organization designed to bring together policy experts, businesses, environmental groups and others to bear on the issue. This combination makes the Alliance a potent force, and NRDC values highly the Alliance's role in advancing the most effective clean energy solution of the 21st century.
