(142f) Promoting Energy Efficiency in the Southeast Region of the United States

As the world continuously faces challenges with increasing energy prices, constraints in energy supply and transmission, and energy reliability concerns, the energy market is turning to energy efficiency practices that are proving to be the cleanest, most secure, and most reliable energy resource. Energy efficiency is considered one of the most reliable, cost-effective, and quickest resources to deploy for meeting the challenge of increased energy demand and limited energy-producing resources. States are investing two to three times of their efforts toward energy efficient programs and resources. As increased pressure is placed on electric utility companies, as well as states, to find clean energy resources, states are looking at aggressive energy efficiency policies, increasing investments in efficiency programs, and improving efficiency in their own facilities.

Energy efficiency is using less energy to supply an equivalent level of energy service. Energy efficiency results in fewer resources used for energy production and reduces environmental impact associated with the extraction, transporting and burning of these resources for energy production. Implementing energy efficient methods will aide in achieving the nation's goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, reduces our reliance on foreign imported fossil fuels, reduces climate change and ecosystem disturbance and allows us to diversify the energy resource portfolio for energy production. Energy use is dependent on population growth, growth in industries and businesses, climate, age of local buildings, and access to innovative technologies.

The Southeast region recorded at 20% population growth in the past decade making it the country's most populous region today. In 2001, 511,161 privately-owned housing permits were issued in the Southeast, accounting for 31% of the national total for that year. Promoting energy efficiency would help to offset the increased energy demand needed due to rapid population growth.

Currently, the southeast region of the United States has been identified as the fastest-growing region in the country. Rapid increases in population growth have resulted in an exponential increase in energy demand. This region accounts for 22% of the United States and includes, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Energy use per capita in this region is 23.17% above the national average. Of the 11 states included in this region, only two are below the national average, including Florida (24.19% below) and North Carolina (7.08% below). Virginia is slightly above the national average, which is approximately 1.77% above the national average. Louisiana uses the most energy per capita, which is 137.17% above the national average. The remaining states are approximately 10% to 40% above the national average. The Southeast has the highest per capita electricity consumption in the nation, while also having a much higher level of energy intensity. States included in the southeast region of the United States need to find ways to promote energy efficiency and find alternative systems for the way their buildings use energy.

Despite the south's high energy usage, the Southeast region has the lowest levels for ENERGY STAR® market penetration and energy-efficiency spending per capita is just one-fifth of the national average. In addition to low spending in this area, the Southeast falls behind other regions of the country with assistance to low-income households to weatherize homes. Low-income families in the region also receive lower overall levels of support, relative to subsidies delivered in other regions, in helping to pay their energy bills. In order to offset increased energy demand and limit the amount of resources used for energy production, it is imperative for the Southeast region of the United States to invest in promoting energy efficiency in both the residential and commercial sector.

In 2008, United States residential and commercial building total primary energy consumption accounted for 73.0% with a 2.4% growth rate increase from 2006. Buildings and residential structures consume the majority of the energy produced in the United States, which proves that energy-efficiency technology research should start in these two sectors.

Energy efficiency is the best way to extend our nation's energy supplies. Energy-saving efforts have the potential to return economic, environmental, and quality-of-life benefits. Energy-efficiency solutions have the ability to reduce energy bills for both residential and commercial consumers by 20% to 30%. Energy efficient technologies and practices allow consumers and businesses to use less energy and save money at little to no costs, because it is a quick and cost-effective way to ensure energy needs are met while eliminating wasteful energy use practices. Energy efficient practices that can be implemented in both residential and commercial buildings are insulation, efficient windows, appliances, air conditioning, lighting, fans and motors, and furnaces and boilers.

Many states are leading the nation in advancing energy efficiency policies and programs, therefore making it imperative to recognize and document best practices within states, to encourage other states to follow in their lead, ultimately reaching the overall goal of improving our environment and reducing the changes in climate and the ecosystem. Energy efficiency is the only resource that can reduce energy consumption and balance out the energy demand and resource supply ratio. By shrinking our nation's reliance on energy supply, efficiency allows new, clean energy resources (i.e., wind and solar technologies) to make up for the growing demand of state energy portfolios. In order to maintain meeting our current energy demand and meet future demands, it is imperative that we work together as a whole, to promote energy efficiency and the implementation of renewable energy technologies. Additionally, the discovery of more efficient methods to design our buildings and residential structures that utilize the natural building systems to limit our reliance on energy when location and climate provide.