New York – As countries announce updated pledges to the Paris Agreement at the United Nations today, more than 150 U.S. businesses and organizations delivered a letter to the incoming COP 30 Presidency of Brazil to affirm their commitment to deploy demand-side solutions in the United States and to partner with governments toward achieving the global goal to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030.
The Alliance to Save Energy and the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE) sent the letter to COP 30 President Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago this morning. The industry letter brings together 152 signatories, including large companies, small businesses, and trade associations across all sectors of the energy value chain. Businesses supporting the letter represent manufacturers of insulation, heating and cooling, refrigeration, lighting, and digitalization technologies; energy service companies, finance providers, project developers, and consultancies; renewable energy, energy storage, and energy end-users; chemicals; building materials suppliers and construction firms; and more.
“Governments must see that companies are staying the course and committed to delivering the technology solutions needed to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements in five years,” said Lisa Jacobson, president of the Business Council for Sustainable Energy (BCSE). “Saving energy while growing the global economy is good business. Now is the time for continued public-private partnerships to seize on this interest and make real progress toward unlocking new energy resources, improving reliability, and lowering costs worldwide.”
Brazil, as host of this year’s UN Climate Change Conference (also known as COP 30) from November 10 – 21, is prioritizing actions to meet UN goals to decarbonize the world’s energy system, which include doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvements. Both the Alliance to Save Energy and BCSE will travel to COP 30 in Belém to meet with governments and stakeholders. Together, they will build out strategies to partner with the U.S. private sector to reduce emissions and strengthen community resilience.
“As we face growing demand in the United States, energy efficiency is really the first fuel because it can be deployed quickly, offers a significant return on investment, and lowers energy costs for all the world’s communities,” said Paula Glover, president and CEO of the Alliance to Save Energy. “Building massive energy generation projects and transmission is proving to be time consuming and costly, and that’s why we are seeking a doubling of energy efficiency within five years.”
The International Energy Agency predicts that doubling the global rate of energy efficiency improvements will lower energy bills in advanced economies by one third, create 4.5 million new jobs, and meet 40% of the emissions reductions required by the Paris Agreement. Plus, the letter’s signatories highlight that increased efficiency will meet growing energy demand, improve grid resilience, and increase energy security.
Bob Hinkle, CEO of Metrus Energy, an energy-as-a-service provider and signatory to the letter, emphasized how energy efficiency is both a solution and an investment opportunity.
“As an energy project investor, Metrus is keenly aware of the need to scale energy efficiency upgrades to meet growing energy demand, replace aging infrastructure and mitigate the worst effects of climate change,” Hinkle said. “Doubling the rate of energy efficiency is good for the economy, good for businesses and, as this broad coalition of signatories demonstrates, it is a ready-now solution that just makes sense.”
Click here to read the full letter.
Quotes from signatories:
Lynn Abramson, President, Clean Energy Business Network
“Energy efficiency should be the first resource in the toolkit we reach for to tackle rising energy demand. Stretching our collective energy efficiency ambitions further over the next 10 years will undoubtedly lower bills for consumers, cut costs for businesses, and boost grid resilience.”
Jeff Marks, Executive Director, ClimateWork Maine
“Energy efficiency is the cornerstone of effective global energy policy. Energy efficiency programs that are well-funded and provide the right mix of investment in residential, business, and industrial improvements can be very successful at reducing both energy costs and consumption. Doubling global energy efficiency will power a growing market for energy efficiency upgrades that benefit buildings, homeowners, and renters while reducing carbon dioxide emissions and other air pollution.”
Ben Gordesky, Solar Development Manager, Energy Efficient Investments, Inc.
“We firmly believe in making existing buildings more energy efficient. It is the base of what we do at Energy Efficient Investments. The most important thing we can do to address the climate crisis is use less energy. Making existing buildings and other infrastructure more efficient reduces energy costs for everyone and reduces climate pollution.”
Scott Tew, Vice President, Sustainability and Managing Director, Center for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability, Trane Technologies
“At Trane Technologies, we are committed to advancing energy efficiency as a cornerstone of sustainable development. By deploying innovative heating, cooling, and refrigeration solutions, we are not only reducing energy consumption but also driving significant cost savings and economic growth. Supporting the global goal to double the rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030, we recognize that these efforts are essential for securing a sustainable and economically viable future for all.”
Media Contacts:
Lizzie Stricklin
Business Council for Sustainable Energy
lstricklin@bcse.org
202.785.0507 ext. 1504
Dan Whitten
Alliance to Save Energy
dwhitten@ase.org
202.306.9970