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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.

Alliance Calls for Effective, Long-Term Energy Policies – Not Gimmicks – In Response to Record Gas Prices

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
May 1, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today called on the president and Congress to collaborate on “effective, long-term energy policies” that will provide urgently needed relief to American consumers suffering from record-high gasoline prices – not short-term gimmicks that only mask the underlying crisis.

Washington, D.C., May 1, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy today called on the president and Congress to collaborate on “effective, long-term energy policies” that will provide urgently needed relief to American consumers suffering from record-high gasoline prices – not short-term gimmicks that only mask the underlying crisis.

Climate Policy Principles

Daytime sky
April 30, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy (Alliance) believes that government policy(ies) to curb greenhouse gas emissions could spur unprecedented levels of energy efficiency, if designed appropriately.  For this reason, the Alliance Board of Directors has adopted the following set of principles to guide the development of climate legislation that will promote the greatest energy efficiency possible.

Energy efficiency is the most important near-term solution to global warming.  A recent study by the McKinsey Global Institute found that increased efficiency in buildings, industry, transportation, and energy production could meet almost all increased energy demand in the United States while preventing more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions.  Using the energy-efficiency resource also is an important means to bring down the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Energy Efficiency in Climate Legislation

April 16, 2008
Lowell Ungar

Energy efficiency is the most readily available and least-cost solution to global warming in the near-term. A recent study by McKinsey & Company found that increased efficiency in buildings, industry, transportation, and energy production could meet almost all increased demand for energy services in the United States while preventing more than 1.5 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year by 2030—with an annual net savings of over $50 billion. Importantly, McKinsey states that achieving these carbon savings will require “a portfolio of strong, coordinated policies.”
Climate cap-and-trade or carbon tax legislation can spur unprecedented levels of energy efficiency, especially in hard-to-reach sectors of the economy. But market barriers that prevent cost-effective efficiency measures today will make it hard to achieve the needed energy savings solely through carbon prices. In addition, a poorly designed cap-and-trade system may provide little price signal to energy users. Tapping the vast available reserves of cost-effective energy efficiency will require careful design of the cap-and-trade or tax system, enactment of complementary efficiency policies, and use of some of the revenues for energy-efficiency programs.

Pricing Carbon Will Spur Energy Efficiency

2008 Great Energy Efficiency Day

2008 Great Energy Efficiency Day

April 16, 2008 - 8:00am - 3:30pm
Washington, District Of Columbia

Alliance to Save Energy Commends Maryland’s Ambitious Leadership in Energy Efficiency

Date: 
April 8, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy commends the Maryland General Assembly on its passage of the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Initiative (Senate Bill 205 and House Bill 374), which sets one of the most ambitious energy-efficiency goals in the country.

Washington, D.C., April 4, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy commends the Maryland General Assembly on its passage of the EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Initiative (Senate Bill 205 and House Bill 374), which sets one of the most ambitious energy-efficiency goals in the country. The EmPOWER Maryland initiative aims to reduce statewide per capita energy consumption by 15 percent by 2015.

Energy Efficiency Incentives are Badly Needed Economic Stimulus

Date: 
April 3, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today praised a bipartisan Senate effort to secure the extension of tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, but cautioned that the time for making a difference in the economy is very short

Washington, D.C., April 3, 2008 - The Alliance to Save Energy today praised a bipartisan Senate effort to secure the extension of tax incentives for renewable energy and energy efficiency, but cautioned that the time for making a difference in the economy is very short.

Alliance Urges Maryland Lawmakers to Support EmPOWER Maryland Energy-Efficiency Initiative

Date: 
March 7, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today strongly urged Maryland lawmakers to support Gov. Martin O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Initiative, which will implement the governor’s goal of reducing the state’s per-capita energy consumption and peak energy demand by 15 percent by the year 2015.

Washington, D.C., March 7, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy today strongly urged Maryland lawmakers to support Gov. Martin O’Malley’s EmPOWER Maryland Energy Efficiency Initiative, which will implement the governor’s goal of reducing the state’s per-capita energy consumption and peak energy demand by 15 percent by the year 2015.

International Code Council Committee Sets Stage for Boost in Energy Efficiency of NEW U.S. Homes

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
March 3, 2008

Model energy building efficiency codes under the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) could be strengthened substantially if action taken at the just-completed 2008 Codes Forum of the International Code Council (ICC) is upheld at the ICC annual meeting in September. The IECC, which is amended every three years, is the model energy efficient building code recognized by federal law.

Three-Day Hearing Could Result in More Energy Efficiency Improvements than Any Previous Set of Model Code Amendments

WASHINGTON, DC, March 2, 2008 – Model energy building efficiency codes under the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) could be strengthened substantially if action taken at the just-completed 2008 Codes Forum of the International Code Council (ICC) is upheld at the ICC annual meeting in September. The IECC, which is amended every three years, is the model energy efficient building code recognized by federal law.

As Oil Reaches All-Time Record of $100/Barrel, Alliance Says Energy Efficiency is Key Part of Response

Date: 
February 18, 2008

As oil surged today above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Alliance to Save Energy emphasized energy efficiency as a quick, important, and effective tool to combat higher gasoline and home heating oil prices.

Washington, D.C., February 19, 2008 – As oil surged today above $100 a barrel for the first time, the Alliance to Save Energy emphasized energy efficiency as a quick, important, and effective tool to combat higher gasoline and home heating oil prices.

Alliance Urges Swift Congressional Action On Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives

Date: 
February 8, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today urged Congress to adopt legislation promptly that would extend tax credits for homeowners who make energy-efficiency home improvements. Such tax credits are major incentives for moving energy-efficient technologies into the commercial mainstream, the Alliance said.

Washington, D.C., February 8, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy today urged Congress to adopt legislation promptly that would extend tax credits for homeowners who make energy-efficiency home improvements. Such tax credits are major incentives for moving energy-efficient technologies into the commercial mainstream, the Alliance said.

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