Creating an Energy-Efficient World
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Creating an Energy-Efficient World ALLIANCE TO SAVE ENERGY Silver Anniversary Issue 25-Year Retrospective and 2001 Annual Report 25 Years ago... …the Alliance to Save Energy was born. Its birth was prompted by the energy crisis of the ‘70s. The OPEC oil embargo. Resulting gasoline and heating oil shortages. Long lines at gas stations. President Jimmy Carter in a cardigan urging Americans to conserve energy. These searing images brought home to Americans our dependence on foreign oil and our national security vulnerability. Since then, exciting energy-efficient technologies promoted by the Alliance have made great strides in reducing energy use and related business and homeowner energy bills while also benefiting the economy, environment, and energy security. Once again, much more searing images — the terrorist attacks of September 11 — drive home the threat to our national security that stems from our dependence on foreign oil from one of the more unstable areas of the world. In the intervening years between these pivotal events, the Alliance has accomplished much — now working in two dozen countries on five continents. Yet, much still remains to be done to stem unnecessary energy waste in our businesses, homes, and vehicles to create an energy-efficient world. Please join with us. Alliance to Save Energy First 25 Years on the World Stage 1973 OPEC oil embargo. Politicians and average citizens realize the perils of foreign oil dependence and economic importance of energy. 1978 1977 Automobile fuel efficiency Alliance to standards (CAFE) take effect, Save Energy resulting in a doubling of the founded. average new car’s fuel efficien- 1984 Two founding cy—eventually saving the U.S. Alliance develops training senators— 2.8 million barrels of oil per day. and technical assistance Republican program on Energy Saving Charles Percy and Democrat Alliance TV spokesperson Performance Contracting 1988 Americans drive more than Hubert Humphrey—believe a Gregory Peck promotes energy (ESPC), an innovative, private 2 trillion miles for the first bipartisan energy-efficiency conservation in major public sector financing technique for time ever; at the current rate effort is essential to preserving service ad campaign declaring, energy-efficiency projects. the American way of life. “Let’s Not Blow It, America.” of increase, the nation is pro- jected to hit the 3 trillion mark U.S. Department of Energy 1986 in 15 years—triple 1968’s level. created. President Jimmy Carter 1979 Worst nuclear disaster ever At home, the partial meltdown Alliance Chair Senator Tim signs legislation creating a fed- at Chernobyl power plant. Also, of Three Mile Island (TMI) Wirth holds hearings on eral department to coordinate world oil prices collapse amid nuclear reactor ends new global climate change and energy policy and programs; a perception of plentitude. orders for U.S. nuclear power calls for greater focus on energy-efficiency and renew- plants. In the Middle East, To increase home weatheriza- energy efficiency. able energy programs receive the Iranian revolution gener- tion savings, Alliance, under major funding support. ates a second world oil crisis. Chair Senator John Heinz, initi- Alliance organizes emerging Oil prices double and plunge ates national training programs energy-efficiency industry the industrial world into a and demonstrations. More than to make its voice heard on recession. 2,000 heating technicians national energy policy issues, attend workshops in 23 states. including Federal Energy Alliance Board member Robert Management Program, Stobaugh’s popular book, international investment Energy Future, popularizes a 1987 issues, and the Energy Black for World Events new solution to energy woes — Ending the ‘Appliance Wars,’ Policy Act of 1992. Purple for Alliance Events energy efficiency. President Reagan vetoes, then signs the National Appliance Energy Conservation Act, mandating federal energy- efficiency stan- dards for many commonly used appliances. 1992 President George H. W. Bush signs comprehen- 1991 sive Energy Gulf War. International atten- Policy Act, tion focuses on energy issues including 1994 U.S. oil imports exceed as U.S. leaders initially cite major provisions to improve domestic oil production for energy vulnerability to justify federal energy management, first time in nation’s history. military involvement. building codes and lighting, 1993 equipment standards, and President Clinton proposes The latest culprits: light trucks, EPA creates Energy Star’s home energy ratings, owing in small Btu tax that could help SUVs, and other low-efficiency predecessor, Green Lights: large measure to the 1991 stimulate investment in energy vehicles clogging U.S. first voluntary energy- Alliance report and Alliance efficiency; Congress forcefully roadways. efficiency effort, ushering advocacy. rejects his proposal. U.S. energy-efficiency in a new era of nonregulatory Throughout the ‘90s, the industry asks Alliance to market transformation initia- UN Conference on Environment Alliance spurred the creation organize efficiency export tives. The Alliance follows and Development in Rio puts of numerous groups, including missions in Mexico, and soon suit with its Green Schools, climate change debate and the the Business Council for after in China, Brazil, India, and Steam Management, and role of country-wide energy use Sustainable Energy, the several other countries. These Efficient Windows and the fight to diminish green- Building Codes Assistance seminars marshal business Collaborative programs. house gas emissions into the international context. Project, the Export Council for expertise to educate decision U.S. government facilities Energy Efficiency, the makers and expand markets waste more than $1 billion Northwest Energy Efficiency for efficiency worldwide. annually of taxpayers’ money, Council, India’s Council of reveals Alliance’s Energy Energy Efficiency Companies, 1995 Congressional attempts to Use in Federal Facilities: and the Ghana Energy roll back major funding and Squandering Taxpayer Foundation. regulations for energy efficien- Dollars and Needlessly cy are defeated. Led by Alliance Polluting Our Environment. Chair Senator Jeff Bingaman and Co-Chairs Senator Jim Jeffords and Representative Ed Markey, the Alliance coordi- nates the energy-efficiency industry’s work to hold the line. Alliance returns to broadcast- ing public service announce- ments. The Alliance launches the first of three major public service announcement (PSA) campaigns in the ‘90s, again taking its message of energy efficiency directly to the American people. 1996 Alliance opens first overseas office in Russia, followed by offices and representatives 2002 in Ukraine, Serbia, Ghana, Congress refuses the once-in- Thailand, and elsewhere a-decade opportunity to shore on five continents. 1999 up automobile fuel efficiency Eight of the 10 hottest standards. 1997 summers ever recorded occur Renewed interest in energy in the ‘90s, providing Alliance TV ad is selected by efficiency following the Kyoto additional evidence of climate CBS-TV World’s Greatest Conference on Global Climate change, while the increased Commercials as #2 worldwide Change. International attention energy demand for air commercial; #1 in United focuses on the environmental conditioners and other States. “Static Electricity consequences of fossil fuel appliances stretches the 2001 House” uses humor to wow combustion and CO2 power grid to its limit, President George W. Bush TV executives and sell home emissions. testing electricity reliability directs Vice President Dick energy efficiency and Energy in many areas. Cheney to develop a National Star message to the public. 1998 Energy Plan. Alliance releases Alliance celebrates 25 years of Leading by Alliance criticizes report on annual leadership in promoting energy Example report as energy waste by federal efficiency worldwide. Led by its imbalanced for government. Nine months later, chairman, Senator Byron downplaying Executive Order FEMP 13123 Dorgan, and its CEO, David importance of mandates Nemtzow, the Alliance — with 2000 energy efficiency. stricter Two auto companies debut its Board, corporate members, efficiency hybrid cars with highly Alliance bestows highest staff, and many partners — measures efficient gas-electric engines. honor on New York Governor celebrates a 25-year history of at federal Mileage exceeds 45 mpg. George Pataki at the Alliance’s linking government, business, facilities. Evening with the Stars of environmental, and consumer Blackouts stun California, Energy Efficiency. Pataki leaders in a bipartisan effort to threaten many other regions. accepts the award one month promote energy efficiency. Energy moves to front burner after the September 11 terrorist as electricity, gasoline, heating attacks, telling attendees oil, and natural gas prices “Energy security is national skyrocket in much of U.S. security, and energy Breakup of Yugoslavia creates efficiency boosts power shortages during winter both.” heating season. Alliance Energy Secretary responds with emergency Spencer Abraham, program to educate Serbians former CIA Chief about measures to reduce James Woolsey, and electric heating requirements. others speak at Alliance’s first Associates Summit on Energy Efficiency, which spotlights energy security. In the Cause of Energy Efficiency A Retrospective of the First Quarter Century of the Alliance to Save Energy The year was 1977. described the idea. Humphrey The next step was to bring Roots mesmerized us. The didn’t wait.