U.S. Exceeds Energy Conservation Expectations

Americans conserved about 112 million MWh of electricity in 2010, 21% more than in the previous year, according to a report released this week. The numbers for 2011 are likely to be even better, says the report by the Institute for Electric Efficiency, a nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of electricity. Utility energy-efficiency programs as well as more efficient appliances and gadgets are cited as the primary drivers of the savings. Efficiency is considered a good investment because it's cheaper to save energy than to make energy. The report pegs the cost of saving energy at 3.5 to 4.3 cents/kWh.

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Click here to read the report, "Summary of Ratepayer-Funded Electric Efficiency Impacts, Budgets, and Expenditures."

Source: ASHRAE