Why are energy efficiency standards important?
Despite increased population and more appliances consuming power in homes and businesses, energy efficiency standards have helped keep per capita electricity consumption in California flat for the past 30 years. California’s per capita electricity consumption has remained constant at approximately 7,000 kilowatt-hours/year (kWh) for the last 30 years due in large part to strict standards for homes and appliances. The rest of the U.S. has increased 40 percent (to roughly 12,000 kWh/year per person). See www.energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/us_per_capita_electricity_2005.html While new power plants with an installed capacity of 13,180 megawatts were built in the last 10 years, efficiency standards have helped the state avoid building several additional power plants.
Despite increased population and more appliances consuming power in homes and businesses, energy efficiency standards have helped keep per capita electricity consumption in California flat for the past 30 years. California’s per capita electricity consumption has remained constant at approximately 7,000 kilowatt-hours/year (kWh) for the last 30 years due in large part to strict standards for homes and appliances. The rest of the U.S. has increased 40 percent (to roughly 12,000 kWh/year per person). See www.energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/us_per_capita_electricity.html While new power plants with an installed capacity of 13,180 megawatts were built in the last 10 years, efficiency standards have helped the state avoid building several additional power plants.
