Energy Efficiency Day 2019
Posted on October 2, 2019 by Samuel Pastrick
Tags, Energy
Today, October 2 2019, is the fourth annual Energy Efficiency Day. As a tireless energy efficiency advocate for over three decades, CUB proudly supports #EEDay2019 – a growing national movement of advocacy organizations, government and non-governmental agencies, energy utilities, and individuals.
The foremost goal of Energy Efficiency Day is to highlight the benefits of energy efficiency by organizing stakeholders behind a common message: to meet climate change goals, build and maintain a clean energy workforce and economy, improve public health and social equity outcomes, and save residential utility customers money. We as a country and world must utilize all available resources to realize the benefits of energy efficiency.
As the designated advocate for residential utility consumers here in Oregon, CUB supports everyday education for individuals who want to lower their energy use at home. CUB has also been integral in advancing public policies to facilitate savings for the benefit of the energy system as a whole and, therefore, all customer classes. Our legislative advocacy work helping to establish the Energy Trust of Oregon (ETO) in 2002 is a prime example. An independent nonprofit, for nearly 20 years ETO has facilitated energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy improvements for customers of Oregon’s investor owned electric and gas utilities.
As reported in the Oregon Department of Energy’s 2018 Biennial Energy Report to the Oregon Legislature, statewide energy use has dropped by roughly 12.5 percent since the year 2000. What makes this statistic impressive, however, is that during this same period, Oregon’s population increased by 19 percent and the state’s overall economic output (as measured by gross domestic product) increased by over 90 percent. More to the point, an Oregonian today uses almost 20 percent less energy than the median American.
While Oregon is the reigning Northwest champion when it comes to energy efficiency, in the larger Pacific NW region, energy efficiency prevents over 23 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and contributing to climate change each year. This is the equivalent of taking, on average, 5 million internal combustion engine vehicles off the road.
Lacking leadership at the federal level to respond to climate change (particularly in recent years), states have led the charge in developing effective and least-cost energy efficiency policy. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, since 1990, energy efficiency investments have averted the construction of over 300 baseload power plants across the nation while delivering customer savings of nearly $790 billion. To come anywhere near to where modern science tells us we need to be by mid-century in order to limit the worst effects of climate change, all effective energy efficiency must be explored.
To stay engaged throughout the day, use #EEDay2019 or #EnergyEfficiency and follow @OregonCUB.
09/05/22 | 0 Comments | Energy Efficiency Day 2019