1. What is energy efficiency?
2. Efficiency vs. conservation – what’s the difference?
3. How much does energy efficiency cost?
4. Why do we need energy efficiency?
5. What is Utah’s energy efficiency potential?
6. How can energy efficiency be used?
7. Get started today
   
8. Energy efficiency presentations

1. What is energy efficiency?
Energy efficiency is a means to reduce demand for energy of any type, generally through substituting more advanced technological equipment, while providing the same (or better) quality products and services. Common energy efficiency measures include hundreds of technologies and processes, such as:

• high efficiency appliances, lighting and heating and cooling systems,
• improved insulation,
• daylighting,
• advanced building controls.

Once installed, energy efficiency measures continue to save energy (and money) in homes, businesses, industrial operations and vehicles over many years, while also reducing environmental impacts and often improving comfort.

Energy efficiency is a high priority resource that can be used to meet our energy needs like other traditional energy resources, such as coal, geothermal, hydro, natural gas, solar, or wind energy. Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective energy resource available because we can access it immediately. Since it reduces overall energy demand, energy efficiency should be put into place before renewable energy systems are installed, thereby increasing cost-effectiveness of renewable energy systems.

2. Efficiency vs. conservation – what’s the difference?
Energy efficiency is based on installing technologies and measures that save energy over long periods of time, and energy conservation relies on adopting daily actions to consume less energy. These actions - such as turning off lights and the television, unplugging appliances, using less electricity during peak hours, drying clothing on a clothes line or rack, and turning down the thermostat 1-2 degrees and wearing a sweater - are all examples of energy conservation. Energy conservation is a simple and important step everyone can take to save money and energy in addition to increasing energy efficiency.

3. How much does energy efficiency cost?
The up-front cost for energy efficiency products is generally more than off-set by the resulting energy and cost savings.  Increasing energy efficiency is the simplest and least expensive way to lower energy bills, increase Utah's competitiveness and support job creation, while also reducing emissions and pollutants from energy generation.

4. Why do we need energy efficiency?
With energy demand increasing at over 2-3% per year, energy efficiency and conservation are fundamental strategies needed to meet Utah's energy needs in a cost-effective, clean, reliable, and balanced manner.

5. What is Utah’s energy efficiency potential?
If Utah consumers, businesses, industry, state and local governments made a concerted effort to meet Governor Huntsman’s energy efficiency goal, Utah could save:

• Over 10,000 GWh/yr of electricity by 2020. This is the equivalent to the electricity used by over 1.1 million homes/yr.
• About 38 million decatherms/yr by 2020.
• In total, the estimated net economic benefits of $7.1 billion (including transportation efficiency) is equivalent to saving about $6,700 per household on average, based on the number of households projected in 2015. This total is a conservative number when one takes into consideration that this assumes energy prices remain the same, and does not include valuation of non-energy benefits (such as reducing carbon dioxide emissions, etc). For more information, see Utah Energy Efficiency Strategy: Policy Options (2006).

The economic development benefits from energy efficiency is huge. Energy efficiency will play a major role in creating new clean energy careers as part of the growing “green-collar” economy.

6. How can energy efficiency be used?
Opportunities for increasing energy efficiency and energy conservation exist everywhere you look. Several critical opportunities for energy efficiency include:

• Daylighting, high efficiency lighting & lighting controls
• Passive solar orientation for heating and cooling
• Increase insulation and air sealing
• Use a programmable thermostat
• Seal leaks in ducts, and around windows, doors and recessed lights
• High efficiency cooling - advanced evaporative cooling
• ENERGY STAR® Appliances
• Building commissioning and re-commissioning
• Co-generation and waste capture and recovery

7. Get started today:

• Learn about how you can save energy at home or at work
• Many rebates and tax credits are currently offered to help you increase energy efficiency

8. Continue learning: Energy efficiency presentations