The OEC is committed to improving energy efficiency in Ohio.
Energy efficiency is the most cost-effective way to reduce the pollution and environmental impact associated with utility electricity production. Efficiency is about conservation, and conservation is about individual choices.
OEC Testifies Before OH House About Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Sources
As the Ohio House continue hearings on Ohio's current energy policy, environmental groups provided testimony today with a simple message: energy efficiency and renewable energy in Ohio are saving are money, creating jobs, and protecting the environment.
Nolan Moser, representing the Ohio Environmental Council and other environmental stakeholders, reminded the joint committee members that in 2008, when Senate Bill 221 was enacted in an overwhelmingly bipartisan manner, the state's Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) and Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) were established. Since put in place, these policies have actually provided a cost-savings for consumers on their electric bills while creating pollution-free energy.
In 2008, Governor Strickland and the Ohio General Assembly passed into law Ohio Senate Bill 221, which provides Ohio with strong Energy Efficiency Standards that promises energy savings, lower energy costs, and new jobs and investment in Ohio’s economy.
The landmark law requires electric utility companies to invest in energy-efficient technologies such as high-efficiency lights and insulation, and in renewable energy sources, including wind, solar, hydro, and bio-mass.
Already, energy efficiency programs in Ohio are saving consumers millions of dollars. Read how here.
Unfortunately, there are current threats to the implementation of this legislation.Read the OEC's Fact Sheet.
Loan Fund Makes Renewable Energy a Reality
The Ohio Environmental Council championed an innovative low-interest energy efficiency loan fund as part of a state law to deregulate Ohio’s electric utilities.
The Ohio Energy Loan Fund enables below market-rate loans to residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, educational, and non-profit customers to implement energy efficiency and renewable energy projects including solar, wind, and solar thermal systems.
The loan fund was established
in 1999 under the electric restructuring legislation (Am. Sub. Senate Bill 3, 123rd G.A.) and is administered by the Ohio Office of Energy Efficiency.
What You Can Do
Every Ohioan can reduce pollution by using energy wisely. Energy efficiency not only saves money, but reduces the environmentalmdamage and health effects of power plants. The cleanest kilowatt-hour is the one unused.
As the enormous costs associated with conventional energy production become increasingly obvious, efficiency and renewable energy sources are becoming increasingly competitive.
An easy way for consumers to conserve energy is by looking for the Energy Star logo on energy efficient products.
According to EPA’s Energy Star Program,
if every household in the U.S. replaced
one light bulb with an Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL), it would prevent enough pollution to equal removing one million cars from the road!
Please click here (external link) for more information about Ohio energy efficiency programs and resources.
Every Ohioan can reduce pollution by using energy wisely. Energy efficiency not only saves money, but reduces the environmentalmdamage and health effects of power plants. The cleanest kilowatt-hour is the one unused.
