The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Environmental Protection Agency released this week their updated vision for energy efficiency over the next two decades, the National Action Plan Vision for 2025. The report, which received input from  more than 60 energy, environmental and state policy leaders, anticipates that implementation of the framework can lead to a reducing the nation’s energy demand by 50 percent and can save $500 billion over 20 years.

In it, they build on the goals established in the 2006 study that seek to increase energy efficiency in homes and buildings AND save ratepayers money.

The initial goals of gaining a strong commitment to the cause, communicating the “benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency,” and promoting funding and incentives for utility conversion, have all been expanded.

The report focuses on what the more than 120 partnering organizations can do to implement those goals.

To begin, the report details 10 strategic goals: 

• Cost-effective energy

• Processes for utility and program incentives

• Cost effective efficiency tests

• Evaluation, measurement and verification metrics

• Energy efficiency delivery methods

• State policies to deliver energy efficiency implementation activities

• Customer pricing and incentives to promote investment

• Technology for advanced billing systems

• Technology for collaboration and delivery

• Other technologies.

Most of these goals are appropriate, but they seem a bit out of reach for most utility companies looking to really make a difference in energy efficiency for their customers. What kinds of cost effective efficiency tests? What’s cost effective? Are the test done in-house or does a third party have to audit? What will future state policies require in terms of energy efficiency goals? How much cost can the customer base bear while the utility company sets up energy efficient programs? Can energy efficiency be achieved by reducing electricity use and replacing that demand with renewable energy? Or, does overall energy demand need to be reduce to reach the Plan’s vision?

These are all likely questions the Action Plan implementers need to answer beyond a guiding vision. However, interesting further analysis would be to estimate which consumers will see the anticipated cost savings. Will it be homeowners or commercial retail giants? Will metropolitan areas, with massive amounts of buildings and the heat island effect that decreases energy efficiency benefit greatly from implementing these goals?

The impact on metropolitan areas is an important consideration. If a 50 percent energy efficiency increase in cities like Los Angeles is achieved, America is really putting a dent in climate change impact while cutting energy costs.