Energy secretary unveils plan to boost U.S. energy productivity by 2030

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz unveiled a roadmap plan on Thursday in support of President Obama's goal of doubling energy productivity in the U.S. by 2030.

Within the plan, "Accelerate Energy Productivity 2030: A Strategic Roadmap for American Energy Innovation, Economic Growth and Competitiveness," Moniz identifies strategic actions that aim to ensure the advancement of energy efficiency.

The report focuses on actions that are scalable and have been successfully implemented in governments at the state, local and federal levels alongside actions already being taken by organizations and private industry to improve energy efficiency.

“Cutting energy waste and doubling energy productivity will help American families save money on their energy bills, enable businesses to produce more while using less energy and strengthen the U.S. clean-energy economy,” Moniz said. “This roadmap provides a path for families, businesses and governments, among others, to follow. By taking steps to increase efficiency and cut waste, the U.S. will be more competitive globally and will see direct and long-lasting benefits for decades to come.”

Methods to achieve this, outlined in the report, include the requirement that vehicles and products provide energy-performance information to consumers and that product and vehicle energy-efficiency codes and standards be set. The plan also includes suggestions relating to alignment of energy-efficiency models with current utility business models.

“Accelerate Energy Productivity 2030 already has fostered dialogues and galvanized action across all sectors of the economy, and with the release of the Roadmap, a broader range of stakeholders and activists now have access to concrete strategies and recommendations on how to achieve impactful and verifiable energy-efficiency gains across the country," Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan said.