This report summarizes the results of EPRI’s analysis of U.S. Energy Efficiency Potential through 2035. The achievable potential represents an estimated range of savings attainable through programs that encourage adoption of energy-efficient technologies, taking into consideration technical, economic, and market constraints. The study’s objective is to provide an independent, technically grounded estimate of the potential for electricity energy savings and peak demand reduction from energy efficiency programs through 2035 that can help inform decisions of both policy makers and electric utilities.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration in its 2012 Annual Energy Outlook projects that electricity consumption in the U.S. residential, commercial, and industrial sectors will grow at an annual rate of 0.72% from 2012 through 2035. Energy efficiency programs have the potential to realistically reduce this growth rate to 0.36% per year from 2012 through 2035. Under an ideal set of conditions conducive to energy efficiency programs, this growth rate can be reduced to as low as 0.20% per year. The estimated cost of implementing programs to achieve realistic potential savings ranges from $8 billion in 2015, growing to $30 billion by 2025, and to $80 billion by 2035. This study is intended to inform utilities, policymakers, regulators, and other stakeholder groups.