Southern states are interested in energy efficiency — but they want a neutral source of information they can trust about what activities and behavior changes best suit their needs and industries, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.
In producing Trusted Partners: Everyday Energy Efficiency Across the South, the Deep South Ethnographic Project at ACEEE visited sites in Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana and found a lack of effective energy efficiency policies in the South hurt businesses and residents who may pay lower rates but have some of the highest electricity bills in the US.
The study says there is a large potential for energy savings in the South and behavior change is one of the keys to unlock it. Among ACEEE’s recommendations:
Additionally, the study says nonprofit, member-based or voluntary associations are key to communicating energy efficiency benefits. Proactive utility partners are lacking, and respondents say market-based solutions cost too much. Several interviewees said they don’t trust government intervention with respect to energy efficiency. The solution may lie with trusted nonprofits or other organizations.
Earlier this month, the Louisiana Public Service Commission nixed plans for a statewide energy efficiency program.
