Power of Efficiency

The document argues that energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to meet rising electricity demand in the Southeast US, potentially reducing expected use by 20% by 2025. It identifies regulatory and financial barriers and recommends the adoption of Energy Efficiency Resource Standards (EERS), updated building codes, and alternative utility business models to drive investment across residential, commercial, and industrial sectors.

• Energy efficiency is significantly more affordable than constructing new power plants, with costs under $0.05 per kWh compared to $0.08 to $0.14 per kWh for new generation.
• With prompt policy action, the Southeast region could reduce its total expected electricity use by 11 percent by 2015 and 20 percent by 2025.
• The implementation of a national Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) targeting 15 percent savings by 2020 could create over 56,000 jobs and return nearly $38 billion in net savings to consumers in the Southeast.
• The Southeast region currently exhibits higher electricity consumption per person than the national average, with residential consumption nearly 40 percent higher, largely because electricity is the primary source for heating and cooling.
• Industrial energy recycling technologies, specifically combined heat and power (CHP), offer lower levelized costs (less than $0.10 per kWh) than conventional power and provide reliability benefits for critical services.
• Several barriers hinder the adoption of efficiency, including high initial costs, misaligned incentives where investors do not reap rewards, regulatory structures that undervalue efficiency, and gaps in education and awareness.

APA

Creech, D., Chandler, J., Metzger, E., Del pino, S. P., Tapia, A., & Taube, B. (2009). Power of Efficiency. World Resources Institute. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_power_of_efficiency.pdf

Chicago

Creech, Dennis, Jess Chandler, Eliot Metzger, Samantha Putt Del pino, Alex Tapia, and Ben Taube. Power of Efficiency. World Resources Institute, 2009. https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_power_of_efficiency.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Creech |first1=Dennis |last2=Chandler |first2=Jess |last3=Metzger |first3=Eliot |last4=Del pino |first4=Samantha Putt |last5=Tapia |first5=Alex |last6=Taube |first6=Ben |title=Power of Efficiency |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=April 2009 |url=https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_power_of_efficiency.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{creech2009power, author = {Creech, Dennis and Chandler, Jess and Metzger, Eliot and Del pino, Samantha Putt and Tapia, Alex and Taube, Ben}, title = {{Power of Efficiency}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2009}, month = apr, url = {https://wriorg.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/pdf/southeast_power_of_efficiency.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }