In spite of impressive efficiency gains in the past two decades, there remains enormous potential for further cost-effective efficiency improvements throughout the U.S. economy. Based on our initial review of DOE's FY2001 budget request, we have identified several programs where an increase in funding is particularly important in our view. Appliance standards provide huge benefits for consumers and the nation. Additional funding is needed to complete priority rulemakings on water heaters, clothes washers, and air conditioners, as well as move forward on transformers and commercial heating and cooling equipment. This program is playing a valuable role in educating consumers and overcoming barriers to the adoption of new technologies, some of which DOE helped to develop.
Additional funding is needed to cover a wider range of products and increase promotion efforts.
The increases are primarily for expanding activities with the paper and pulp and agricultural sectors, where there are many promising technologies for saving energy, providing new products, and cutting waste and pollution. It is our understanding that the fossil energy office does not want this project in their budget. Furthermore, it makes sense to leave it in EERE considering the strong link to the forest products, chemicals, and other OIT partner industries. These programs are critical for evaluating and promoting innovative alternative fuel and energy-efficient vehicles in order to reduce oil imports and cut air pollution. Use of performance contracting is rapidly growing under the new super ESPC contracting mechanism and FEMP Executive Order, but FEMP needs a modest funding increase in order to adequately serve and support other agencies.