Energy Efficiency Fast Facts

Energy Efficiency Day (the first Wednesday in October – Oct. 6, 2021)  is a collaborative effort of dozens of energy efficiency advocacy groups around the United States, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Advanced Energy Economy, Alliance to Save Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations and many others. 

The day’s message is this: Save money. Cut pollution. Create jobs. Sounds pretty simple, right? We agree. The goal of Energy Efficiency Day is to share tips, tools, and stories that promote the multiple benefits of energy efficiency, from lower costs to healthier homes. Energy efficiency is the cheapest, quickest way to meet our energy needs, cut consumer bills and reduce pollution. Energy efficiency is also an economic engine, supporting over two million jobs nationwide in manufacturing, construction, and other fields.

We’ll be sharing more in the next week about Energy Efficiency Day, but first, we’re going to share a few fast facts. 

• Since 1990, savings from energy efficiency gains have averted the need to build 313 large power plants and has delivered cumulative savings of nearly $790 billion for Americans.
• Energy efficiency employs 2.25 million people in the US today – more than the number of people who work in the coal, oil, gas, electricity, and even renewable energy industries combined.
• Construction and manufacturing make up 70% of the 2.25 million energy efficiency jobs in the US.
• Small businesses are driving America’s energy efficiency job boom, with 79% of energy efficiency businesses employing fewer than 20 people.  
• Rural households, especially low-income, nonwhite, and elderly, spend an average of 40% more of their incomes on energy than their metropolitan counterparts. Energy efficiency upgrades could lessen these energy burdens and save households more than $400 a year.
• Reducing annual electricity use by 15% nationwide would save more than six lives every day, prevent nearly 30,000 asthma episodes each year, and save Americans up to $20 billion through avoided health harms annually.

You can learn more about Energy Efficiency Day here, and get more fast facts here.