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SubjectsEnvironment › Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Updated 07/2011

Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Contents

Introduction

Energy conservation programs can help local governments and citizens manage energy costs and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. This page includes energy conservation resources as well as illustrations of emergency measures taken during recent supply shortages.

The 2001 energy crisis brought about by the California power shortage increased energy prices, and although the 2001 crisis was weathered, the need for conserving energy remains important regardless.

The links to actions of local governments related to the temporary energy supply shortage of 2001 have been retained for reference should another energy crisis occur in the future. Other information on this page relates to other ongoing energy conservation programs. Jurisdictions are encouraged to provide us with additional links or documents on energy conservation, by contacting the Page Editor.

Energy Code Information

Energy Conservation Programs and Consumer Information

Federal Level

State Level

Other

    Local Government Programs to Conserve Energy

    Energy Planning Tools and Applications

    • A Blueprint for Urban Sustainability (Adobe Acrobat Document), Sustainable Energy Planning Office, Gas Technology Institute, 2004 via National Energy Center for Technology - A resource designed to help cities develop sustainable energy plans that will enable communities to meet their present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It includes case study examples, technological information, and contacts.
    • CALeep Workbook - California Local Energy Efficiency Program - The workbook provides a tool to be used by local officials and community activists to initiate, plan, organize, implement, and assess energy efficiency activities at the local and regional level
    • Creating Energy Efficient Communities, "Community Energy," National Center for Appropriate Technology Smart Communities Network
    • D. E. E. R. Database for Energy Efficient Resources - California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) - Designed to provide well-documented estimates of energy and peak demand savings values, measure costs, and effective useful life (EUL) all with one data source
    • Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities (Adobe Acrobat Document), Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, January 2008 - Provides water and wastewater utility managers with a step-by-step method, based on a Plan-Do-Check-Act management system approach, to identify, implement, measure, and improve energy efficiency and renewable opportunities at their utilities.
    • Toolkit for Community Energy Planning - Community Energy Association (British Columbia), rev. 2006

    Compact Fluorescent Lighting Programs

    • Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs - Energy Star - According to the Energy Star Program, if every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year, more than $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of more than 800,000 cars
    • Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (ESIA) (Adobe Acrobat Document), U.S. EPA Backgrounder, Spring 2011 
    • Natural Resources Canada - Government of Canada Proposes to Amend Lighting Regulations, News Release, March 25, 2011 

    Solid State Lighting

    Sample Policy Directives on Energy Supply Shortage