President Obama has proposed a new program to reward
homeowners with rebates for making their houses more
energy efficient. At the same time, the president called for
additional federal investment in energy efficiency and
renewable energy.
In 2007, the average monthly residential electricity consumption was 936 kWh. (Source: EIA)
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)
Estimated energy demand is charted to grow by almost 50% in the next 20 years.
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)
Today’s challenges of reducing greenhouse gas emissions while meeting the country’s steadily rising demand for electricity make it essential for legislatures and public utility commissions to shift their focus toward mechanisms that make demand reduction as profitable for utilities as increasing supply. (Source: Institute for 21st Century Energy)
