National policies to improve energy efficiency are critical to job creation and economic development, reducing oil imports, improving the reliability of the electric grid, lowering energy prices, and addressing climate change and air pollution. Federal legislation, as carried out by the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, and other agencies, provides essential nationwide energy efficiency programs such as appliance and vehicle efficiency standards, ENERGY STAR® labels, tax incentives, technical assistance, and research and development of new technologies.
How Energy Efficiency Helps
Energy efficiency helps people use less energy to meet their energy needs in their homes, offices, factories, and cars and trucks (see our “primer”). Efficiency has many benefits. Saving energy:
Saves families money in utility bills and at the gas pump, while giving them more control over their energy use (fact sheet)
Makes businesses more competitive and creates jobs (fact sheet)
Reduces pollution and improves our health (fact sheet)