What is energy efficiency?
(From the EPA)--When products, equipment, or processes are "energy efficient," they use less energy than traditional approaches that do the same work. Energy efficiency can include appliances, buildings, and businesses, which use energy to cool or cook food, to provide comfort and shelter, and to produce goods and services. Energy efficiency reduces the electricity and gas used in everyday life. In recent years, energy-efficient equipment and technologies have improved significantly. Everything from computers, to windows, to refrigerators, to manufacturing processes have been redesigned to use less energy, reducing use of electricity and natural gas.

Why is energy efficiency important?
(From the EPA)--There are many benefits to using less energy. First, using less energy saves money. Buying up-to-date technologies and using up-to-date practices can save 10 to 30 percent of many businesses’, governments’ and households’ energy bills. Across the country, Americans could save hundreds of billions of dollars by using more energy-efficient equipment and technologies. By reducing the amount of energy needed to produce the same outcome or service, energy efficiency could also help prevent or delay the need for building dozens of new power plants and other infrastructure.

Second, energy efficiency helps the local economy. Instead of importing natural gas and electricity from outside of your community, domestic and local companies can provide energy-efficient services and equipment. Also, energy-efficiency improvements can provide greater comfort and increase the amount of money that your home or business is worth.

Third, energy efficiency is good for the environment. Power plants creating electricity and our own home’s and businesses’ use of natural gas cause pollution in the air and emissions of greenhouse gases that can contribute to the risks of global climate change. More than half of all greenhouse gases in the air come from power plants and the use of natural gas. By using less energy, you help fight global climate change. You also reduce air pollutants that are unhealthy to breathe. Energy efficiency also reduces the amount of water power plants and factories need to use.

As a customer, why do I want my utility or state to offer energy efficiency programs? Won’t it just raise my rates?
(From the EPA)--While your rate might go up a very small amount, you will use less energy and pay less on your overall bill as you take advantage of energy efficiency programs. U.S. energy bills currently average about $1,900 each year and are expected to increase. While energy efficiency programs might add about 3 percent to the average electricity rates, customers who participate in energy efficiency programs can also save 10 to 20 percent on energy bills. In addition, if a utility company does not have to buy more energy or build new power plants or gas pipelines due to energy efficiency, the rates might be lower - even for people who are not participating in the programs.

How much money could Americans save if utilities begin using energy efficiency?
(From the EPA)--If utilities and states offer comprehensive energy efficiency programs, Americans can save over $500 billion in net savings over 25 years and reduce annual emissions by the amount of those from 90 million vehicles. Of course, some parts of the country will save more, and others will save less.

So why isn’t there more emphasis on energy efficiency?
Historically the main causes of low energy-efficiency adoption have been apathy, high costs and poor technology. Today most of those challenges have been removed or lessened. Still, it is a challenge for utilities to implement energy-efficiency programs due to outdated regulatory models. These models reward utilities for making investments in power plants, distribution lines and equipment. In addition, utilities’ rates are set so that when they sell less energy, they make less money. Regulations need to be changed so that consumers, businesses, governments and utilities all have an interest in promoting energy efficiency.

Are energy efficiency and energy conservation the same?
Energy efficiency and energy conservation are two separate concepts. With efficiency, you are using energy smarter to get the same output. Energy conservation simply means to use less energy, typically by going without energy. For example, turning down the heat and putting on a sweater is energy conservation. Investing in a high-efficiency furnace or heat-pump, and keeping the thermostat the same while using less energy, is energy efficiency.

How was the Energy Efficiency First Coalition created?
Energy efficiency has been a topic in the Kansas City region for several years, and many of the leading policy organizations have made energy efficiency a priority. To show our support to leaders in Jefferson City and Topeka, the coalition was created. None of the coalition members or organizations involved in the coalition are paid. The only expense incurred by the coalition is this Web site, which is paid for with funds provided by Kansas City Power & Light.

What can I do?
Energy efficiency supporters should:

• join the coalition;
• pursue energy efficiency investments in your home, workplace, church or other dwelling;
• educate neighbors, family members and co-workers; and,
• tell policy makers that energy efficiency should be a part of the city/state/region/federal energy plan.