As we end 2025, and enter the coldest of seasons, it’s worth remembering that the energy efficiency isn’t just critical on the most frigid days, or in the sweltering heat. Efficiency should be a year-round mindset.

Efficiency cuts energy use every hour of every day. It is one of the most cost-effective tools available to strengthen the power grid, protect consumers and support economic growth.

Efficiency Is a System Resource, Not a Short-Term Fix

Unlike supply-side solutions that require long lead times and major infrastructure investments, energy efficiency delivers immediate and lasting benefits. Buildings that use less energy reduce strain on the grid, lower overall system costs and improve resilience during extreme weather events.

This is happening in the midst of a significant increase in extreme weather events and a pending skyrocketing of electricity demand.

Over the last five years, there was an average of 23 extreme weather events per year costing $150 billion in damages, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. This is up from an average of three per extreme events per year in the 1980s and seven a year between 2000 and 2009.

A recent analysis by ICF showed that electricity demand is also projected to grow by 25% by 2030 due to the proliferation of data centers, electrification and an aging infrastructure network. In addition to addressing systemic cost and resilience concerns, good policy offers a host of benefits.  

Policy Creates Certainty and Scale

From utility efficiency programs, to appliance standards and building energy codes, policy has driven decades of efficiency gains. Favorable efficiency policies cut costs, improve comfort and health and help avoid expensive investments in new generation and transmission infrastructure.

Markets alone don’t fully capture the value of energy efficiency. Well-designed federal, state and local policies create the certainty needed for businesses, utilities and consumers to invest in efficiency solutions.

Minimum efficiency standards, performance-based utility regulation and incentives for high-performance buildings ensure that efficiency improvements are accessible to all Americans, lowering energy bills for families and increasing affordability.

Efficiency Strengthens Energy Security and Reliability

At the Alliance to Save Energy, we fight for policies that recognize efficiency as a core energy resource. When efficiency is treated as a year-round priority, the results are clear. Lower costs, stronger communities, a more resilient grid and a more competitive and affordable economy.

Energy efficiency is not seasonal. Our commitment to smart, forward-looking efficiency policy shouldn’t be either. Join us at the Alliance in 2026 to ensure that America deploys efficiency to preserve our power grid, protect our communities and build our economy.