Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Contents
- Introduction
- Energy Code Information
- Energy Conservation Programs and Consumer Information
- Local Government Programs
- Energy Planning Tools and Applications
- Sample Policy Directives on Energy Supply Shortage
- Related MRSC Pages
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
- Washington State Energy Code, Ch. 51-11 WAC
- U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program
Energy Conservation Programs and Consumer Information
Federal Level
- DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency - An ongoing project of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the North Carolina Solar Center, North Carolina State University - A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives
- Energy Efficiency - U.S. Department of Energy
- Energy Efficiency - Bonneville Power
- Energy Star - Joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy
State Level
- Washington State Energy Office
- Conservation Tips - Individual Actions - Washington State University Facility Operations
- Conserve Energy - Construction and Public Works - Washington State Department of General Administration
- Energy Ideas Clearinghouse - Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Washington State University
- Energy Program - Washington State University Cooperative Extension Programs
Other
- Alliance to Save Energy - A nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education and advocacy
- Powering Down: Governments Cut Computers' Electricity Demands to Further Green Initiatives, by Lynn Peisner, American City and County, January 2008
Local Government Programs to Conserve Energy
- Bainbridge Island Repower Bainbridge - Community-wide program dedicated to helping Islanders save energy, reduce costs, make their home more comfortable, and create a more sustainable Island. Collaborative effort between city, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington State Department of Commerce, Puget Sound Energy, and others
- Chelan County PUD - Energy Conservation
- Clark County PUD - Energy Conservation
- Issaquah - Zero Energy Demonstration Project - Residential green building demonstration project
- King County Policy Establishing a County Energy Policy and Task Force for Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Cost Savings, Document Code No.: FES 9-2 (AEP), December 8, 1998
- Richland
- Seattle
- Seattle Energy Code
- Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting (Ordinance No. 123226) - Department of Planning and Development
- Electric Power Living in Seattle
- SeaGreen Affordable Housing Guide - Seattle Housing Office
- Streetlights see LED Solid State Lighting below
- Snohomish County PUD - Conservation
Energy Planning Tools and Applications
- A Blueprint for Urban Sustainability (
), 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 (
), 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) (
), 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
- Solid State Lighting: Brilliant Solutions for America’s Energy Future (
), U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- Solid-State Lighting - U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- Seattle LED Lighting
- LED Streetlight Application Assessment Project Pilot Study (
), prepared for Seattle City Light by DKS Associates, December 2009
- LED Streetlights Saving Seattle Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars, Seattle City Light News Release, July 12, 2011
- LED Streetlight Application Assessment Project Pilot Study (
Sample Policy Directives on Energy Supply Shortage
- Washington Governor Directives
- Energy Alert Order No. 01-03 - to state and local governments, dated 01/26/2001
- Energy Directive 01-01 - State Agency Energy Curtailment Procedures
- California Governor Executive Order D-19-01 relating to unnecessary outdoor lighting by retail establishments after business hours, January 17, 2001
- King County Letter to Employees, dated 01/26/2001
- Pierce County Resolution No. R2001-24 calling for conservation goal, dated 02/2001
- Seattle City Light Conservation Initiative, dated 01/08/2001
- Snohomish County Memo to All Employees, sent 02/7/2001
- Tacoma Resolution No. 35012 (
), passed 12/2000
- Tacoma Resolution No. 35122 Declares an Energy Alert (
), passed 04/03/2001
- Tacoma Ordinance No. 26796 Emergency curtailment of Electric Energy (
), passed 04/03/2001
- Thurston County Energy Conservation Information Provided to Employees
- Whatcom County Executive Memorandum (
), dated 02/09/2001
- Whitman County Energy Press Release, dated 02/07/2001
Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Energy Resources and Conservation - General

