Energy efficiency and conservation offer Virginia the most cost-effective and most readily deployable method to manage its energy future. As Virginia's population, business community, and energy needs continue to grow, energy efficiency and conservation can defer the need for new energy-supply facilities and the associated environmental burdens they place on land, water, and air resources.
Energy efficiency is a true "pollution prevention" technique, because at its core is source reduction and improved production efficiency. Improvements to process efficiency result in the decreased use of materials, labor, and wastes. The efficient use of energy results in decreased use of resources, less air pollution, and therefore, cost savings.
Click the links below for more information about energy efficiency at work and at home.
Improving Electrical Efficiency (from the Virginia Energy Plan)
If we reduced our use of electricity by 10%...
Legislation enacted in 2007 set a goal to reduce 2022 electric use by 10 percent of 2006 retail consumption through conservation and efficiency. Reaching the 10 percent goal would defer or postpone the need for approximately 3,900 megawatts of new electric generation capacity by 2022, equivalent to four or five large generation stations.
Virginia consumers would save in the range of $200 to $700 million (net savings after costs) through 2022 (average $15 to $50 million per year), depending on the value assigned to electricity savings. Consumers would receive substantial lifetime savings for their investments in efficiency. Total savings over the lives of the measures would range from $300 to $590 million for each yearly investment in energy-efficiency measures.
If we reduced our use of electricity by 14%...
The Virginia Energy Plan estimates that it is technically possible and cost effective for Virginia to reduce its electricity usage by 14% in 10 years. If Virginia were to achieve 14% reduction in electricity usage through efficiency measures, it could defer or postpone the need for 5,495 megawatts of new electric generating capacity within ten years.
Links
Energy Hog - The Energy Hog website is divided into an adults section and a kid's only zone. The adults section has energy saving tips and information for educators. The other part of the website is devoted to Hog Busters Training Camp, an interactive educational game.
Governor McDonnell's 2010 Address - Video of Governor McDonnell Address at the Governor's Conference on Energy that brought private and public sector leaders together with entrepreneurs, researchers, and policymakers.