What's New

We’ve known for years that the cleanest and cheapest type of energy in Ohio is the energy that is never produced in the first place.  That’s because cutting our energy use by making our homes, buildings and products more energy-efficient means we’re decreasing our demand on the state’s polluting coal-fired power plants.  And that means less air pollution and global warming emissions, and lower electricity bills for businesses and consumers.  Unfortunately though, Ohio has for years lagged behind other states in energy efficiency efforts. 

The good news is, in May, Gov. Strickland signed an Environment Ohio backed bill that requires our electric utilities to invest in
energy efficient technologies and get more power from clean renewable energy resources like wind and solar.

The bill (Senate Bill 221) requires Ohio's electric utilities to harness the potential of energy efficiency measures, and cut energy use in the state 22 percent by 2025.

These energy savings will help to protect Ohio homeowners and businesses from rising electricity bills.  With standards for energy efficiency measures we can make big strides towards seizing the potential of energy efficiency to help protect Ohio’s environment and economy.

This fall, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio will be making important decisions regarding the success of the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.

Now, Environment Ohio is working hard to ensure that the implementation of Ohio’s energy efficiency and renewable energy programs is fair and transparent. These programs should not include unnecessary barriers or loopholes that would allow Ohio’s utilities or big businesses off the hook for saving energy and developing more clean sources of power.

How You Can Help

This fall the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) will be voting on key rules that will dictate the success of Ohio’s energy efficiency programs. Sign our petition to urge the Commission to implement strong clean energy programs that are fair and transparent. These programs should not include unnecessary barriers or loopholes that would allow Ohio's utilities or big businesses off the hook for saving energy and developing more clean sources of power.

Sign our petition here: http://www.environmentohio.org/action/cleanenergy/petition

 

Background

 

Energy efficiency is the cheapest, cleanest, and most readily available form of energy, making it our best solution to climate change. 

With energy prices on the rise, energy efficiency is the most effective way to avoid rate-shock and stabilize electric rates for the future.  For every one dollar that is spent on energy efficiency, at least two to three dollars are saved on energy supply costs.  As Ohio reduces the amount of energy needed to deliver the same amount of heating, lighting, air conditioning, etc. for our homes, schools, businesses, etc., Ohioans will save money on their electric bills. As we reduce our energy demand, particularly during the peak hours of the day, we will avoid using most expensive energy resources, which will bring energy savings to all Ohioans – as well as reductions in harmful air emissions and greenhouse gases. 

Energy efficiency technologies are available for implementation today, giving Ohio a plethora of opportunities to reduce energy consumption such as:

• Providing home energy audits and weatherization programs
• Switching out incandescent lighting for energy efficient compact fluorescents,
• Replacing inefficient appliances by providing rebates for new energy efficient appliances and requiring that inefficient appliances are exchanged,
• Upgrading commercial lighting and refrigeration with more efficient technologies
• Providing incentives for manufacturers to replace inefficient equipment with more efficient technologies.

In addition to tapping the ready availability of existing technologies and stabilizing customer rates, making a statewide commitment to energy efficiency will create more Ohio jobs and keep more dollars in the state.  Installing energy efficiency technologies is very labor intensive, and creates a demand for jobs that cannot be outsourced offshore.

In fact, Ohio is already home to a growing number of companies that manufacture high efficiency appliances, lighting systems, insulation and other products. These manufacturers are likely to benefit from a statewide investment in energy efficiency. 

Energy efficiency is not only good for the economy, it is also the best way to avoid pollution from other dirty traditional energy resources. At least 10 states across the country have implemented energy efficiency programs on a scale large enough to displace power plants.  Ohio can look to other Midwestern states that have helped pave the road to a cleaner energy future. For instance, Minnesota has already saved over 2,300 MW since 1990 and Illinois just enacted one of the strongest energy efficiency standards in the county, requiring utilities to reach an annual 2 percent load reduction through energy efficiency by 2015 and continuing each year thereafter. 

The benefits of Ohio’s energy efficient economy are clear, and now is the time to take advantage of this clean energy opportunity.