New Report Highlights Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Texas, Southern U.S.

According to a report published in April by Georgia Tech and Duke University, the southern U.S. has lagged in its implementation of energy efficiency programs. Defined as the 16 states from Texas to Maryland, the south uses 40 percent of the nation’s residential electricity (44 percent of total electric consumption when including commercial and industrial users) despite only housing 37 percent of the nation’s population. Without intervention, this consumption is expected to increase an additional 16 percent by 2030.

Texas and its nearly 24 million residents were rated 23rd out of the 50 states in 2009 by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, in terms of adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies, despite having the 5th highest per-capita energy consumption in the country.

For Texas residential consumers, enhanced efficiency policies such as stricter building codes, appliance and equipment standards, and expanded weatherization incentives could reduce consumption by 14 percent by 2030. This would result in average annual energy savings of $330 per household.

The expansion of the energy efficiency sector would not only generate new jobs and businesses, but free up funds from energy savings for further economic activity.

For additional information, read the full report (PDF) and state-specific summaries (PDF).