DOE unveiled the "Retrofit Ramp-Up" program on September
14. Using $454 million in Recovery Act funds under the
Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, the
goal is to roll out energy efficiency to hundreds of thousands
of homes and businesses in a variety of U.S. communities.
55 of the world's 65 largest oil producing countries are past their production peaks and in decline.
Estimated energy demand is charted to grow by almost 50% in the next 20 years.
Public policies such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards and building codes are responsible for at least 20% of the improvement in the US's energy intensity--energy use per unit of GDP. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
Fossil fuels provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the US, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels. (Source: DOE)
Appliances account for roughly 65% of electricity consumption in the average American household (2001), with refrigerators and lighting making up the largest categories. (Source: EIA)
