Home ›

Policy

Share this

Sound policy can break down barriers to energy efficiency at the local, state, regional and national levels. The Alliance promotes energy efficiency policies that are meaningful, politically viable and implementable.

Critical to the Solution

Barriers to energy efficiency — including the need for upfront capital investment, lack of consumer awareness and highly-subsidized prices for fossil fuels — often prevent even the "low-hanging fruit" from being picked. Fortunately, sound energy policy can break through these barriers and transform market conditions to create an energy-efficient nation.

Realizing energy efficiency's greatest potential is key component of the Alliance's mission and effective policy is a critical part of the solution. To achieve this goal, the Alliance Policy Team, which includes a research group and a government relations group, focuses on three main tasks:

  • Policy formulation and analysis;
  • Policy advocacy; and
  • Education of policymakers, consumers and the media.

The Cut Energy Bills at Home Act

Image
November 29, 2011
Lowell Ungar

The Cut Energy Bills at Home Act (S. 1914) would provide a tax incentive for whole-home energy efficiency retrofits.

Whole-home efficiency tax credit would encourage deep retrofits

Add a comment

St. Petersburg Times PolitiFact: Truth-o-Meter on Rick Perry's Statement About Federal Bureaucrats Taking Over Local Building Codes

Date: Nov 28, 2011

Add a comment

Regional Initiative Delivers Energy Efficiency, Bill Savings and Jobs

Date: Nov 18, 2011

Author(s): 
Rodney Sobin

Investments from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) led to more than $1.6 billion in economic value added to the economies of 10 east-coast states.

Investments from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) led to more than $1.6 billion in economic value added to the economies of 10 east-coast states. The findings come from an Analysis Group report, "The Economic Impacts of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative on Ten Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States," released Nov. 15, 2011.

National Petroleum Council Study Confirms Importance of Energy Efficiency

National Petroleum Council Study
November 18, 2011
Rodney Sobin

On September 15, 2011 the National Petroleum Council (NPC) released Prudent Development: Realizing the Potential of North America’sAbundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources.  The report, prepared at the request of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, confirms the vital role of enhancing energy efficiency to advance American economic, environmental and energy security interests while also pointing to opportunities to prudently employ North American oil and natural gas resources.  

On September 15, 2011 the National Petroleum Council (NPC) released "Prudent Development: Realizing the Potential of North America’s Abundant Natural Gas and Oil Resources."  The report, prepared at the request of Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, confirms the vital role of enhancing energy efficiency to advance American economic, environmental and energy security interests while also pointing to opportunities to prudently employ North American oil and natural gas resources.  

Add a comment

Sacramento Bee: Home Tip: Don't Miss Home Improvement Tax Credit Deadline

Date: Nov 12, 2011

Add a comment

Huffington Post: Energy Efficiency: The New "First Fuel"

Date: Nov 09, 2011

Add a comment

Consumer Reports: New Bill Would Factor Energy Costs Into Home Value

Date: Nov 07, 2011

The Alliance to Save Energy, one of several advocacy groups supporting the legislation, estimates that for a home for that uses 30 percent less energy than the average, the added value would be more than $10,000.

..."The Alliance to Save Energy, one of several advocacy groups supporting the legislation, estimates that for a home for that uses 30 percent less energy than the average, the added value would be more than $10,000."

Add a comment

The Toledo Blade: Revolution in Illumination

Date: Nov 06, 2011

Add a comment

SAVE Act Would Include Energy Costs in Home Value

Date: Nov 03, 2011

The newly introduced SAVE Act would incorporate energy efficiency into mortgage standards, rewarding buyers and sellers of efficient homes and encouraging efficiency retrofits.

Although energy costs are typically the second highest cost of home ownership after mortgage payments, loans for home buyers usually don’t reflect how energy efficient a house is. However, that may change if a new bill gets passed. The Sensible Accounting to Value Energy or “SAVE” Act (S.1737) would use a home’s expected energy cost to help determine mortgage eligibility.

Add a comment

Super Committee Nears Deadline, Considers Recommendations on Energy

Date: Nov 03, 2011

As the Super Committee approaches its Nov. 23 deadline to issue a deficit reduction plan, Committee members are holding public hearings and weighing recommendations on energy spending.

Nov. 16, 2011 Update: Since this article was published on Nov. 3, the Super Committee has yet to make a deficit-reduction deal, remaining stymied on issues such as tax reform. On Nov. 13, President Barack Obama urged the six Democratic and six Republican lawmakers on the Committee to “bite the bullet” and put their differences aside to make a debt deal by next week’s Nov. 23 deadline. In an effort to meet this deadline and avoid a breakdown of U.S.

Syndicate content