Consumers Union campaign "A Greener Future" is working for clean, renewable, affordable energy.
Energy Efficiency
Whether it be your refrigerator, your light bulbs or your car, the more energy efficient your products are, the less energy you use and the more money you save. Help the environment and your pocketbook at the same time!
Press Releases
- Consumer protection bill headed to Governor’s desk
Bill cracks down on gas price manipulation, increases transparency
- CU: New fuel standards would save consumers thousands in gasoline costs
In a recent CR survey, consumers demonstrated strong support for fuel efficiency standards
- Consumer Guide to New Light Bulb Choices Resulting From Law Taking Effect January 1st
New Products Can Cut Lighting Portion of Energy Bills by 30% But Consumers Need to Understand What to Buy Washington, D.C.—Today, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union are releasing a simple guide to help consumers understand the new lighting choices they will have under the new light bulb law taking effect January 1, Continue Reading
- Lighting Efficiency Standards in the Balance
Congress is likely to decide today or tomorrow whether to gut new lighting efficiency standards scheduled to take place January 1. Along with other consumer groups, we’ve asked Congress to preserve the standards and help consumers tame their utility bills. See our letter, press release, and fact sheet for additional information. The standards have helped usher in a new Continue Reading
- CU: Fuel Standards Will Save Consumers Money at the Gas Pump
November 16, 2011 Consumers Union: Fuel Standards Will Save Consumers Money at the Gas Pump Consumer Reports National Poll Shows Strong Support for Better Fuel Standards WASHINGTON — The White House today formally announced the details of its proposed fuel economy rules for cars and light-duty trucks. Under the rules new vehicles would need to Continue Reading
- CR survey: Californians calling for cleaner cars
Tuesday, November 15, 2011 Consumer Reports Survey: Californians Calling for Cleaner Cars A new Consumer Reports survey found wide consumer support in California for state efforts to reduce vehicle emissions and increase the availability of clean cars and zero emission vehicles. Eighty-one percent of respondents agreed that the state should require all automakers Continue Reading
- CU urges Congress to vote NO on BULB Act
House Vote Today Threatens Money-Saving Energy Standards
- Consumers Reports Says 56 Miles-Per-Gallon Vehicle Standard is Good, but 62 MPG is Better
Aggressive Fuel Economy Standard by 2025 Will Save Consumers Money and Dramatically Cut Oil Consumption
- Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill Will Help Save Billions of Dollars for Families, Businesses
NEWS RELEASE Consumers Union – Nonprofit Publisher of Consumer Reports Thursday, June 9, 2011 Contact: David Butler (dbutler@consumer.org), Kara Kelber (kkelber@consumer.org): 202-462-6262 Shaheen-Portman Energy Efficiency Bill Will Help Save Billions of Dollars for Families, Businesses WASHINGTON, D.C. – Legislation aiming to increase the use of energy efficiency technologies in appliance and Continue Reading
- Consumers Union Supports Improved Testing for Energy Star Program Introduced by Department of Energy
In DOE filing today, Consumers Union says new verification testing program would enhance Energy Star’s effectiveness and integrity WASHINGTON, DC – Consumers Union (CU), the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, today filed comments with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) in support of the Department’s new plan for verification testing of the Energy Star program, which Continue Reading
Blog Posts
- Is Your State or City Among the Cleanest in the Nation?
Clean Edge has released the results for its Clean Energy Leadership Index, comparing which states and major cities are leading the way in terms of clean energy technology usage. Out of all the states, California was ranked first among all states by a “wide margin” according to the report. State performance was evaluated on Continue Reading
- Manufacturers Attempt to Weaken Energy Star Program
By Guest Blogger Mia Council For people purchasing new appliances, energy efficiency is one of the most important considerations–not only for the purpose of preserving the environment, but also for reducing energy bills . Since 1992, the Environmental Protection Agency has been granting Energy Star labels to the most efficient consumer products to help Americans Continue Reading
- How Do Energy Costs in Your State Compare to Other States?
1 = lowest cost; 51 = highest cost green = low cost; red = highest cost Energy costs can spike in the summer time, when many people would probably rather sit inside and crank up the A/C. But for some states, that cost is significantly higher than others. Wallet Hub decided to compile data Continue Reading
- Department of Defense to Make Total-Energy Usage 25% Renewable by 2025
The Department of Defense (DoD) plans on making significant investments in renewable energy sources, according to a report released by the Clean Energy Pipeline. Over the course of the next decade, the DoD intends to draw a quarter of its total energy usage from renewable sources, by 2025. Clean Energy Pipeline, an independent-online publisher centered Continue Reading
- The new normal: energy report predicts volatility, elevated commodity prices here to stay
Nominal energy prices have increased 260 percent since 2000, according to a new report issued by the consulting firm McKinsey & Company. The firm warns that many commodities have a new price floor, while economic pressures are increasing the volatility of the resource market. The report serves as an important reminder that alternative energy sources Continue Reading
- Consumer Reports on Lighting
You may have heard that light bulbs are changing in 2012. On January 1st, new standards take effect which will give you new lighting choices that are 25-30% more efficient than the decades old incandescent bulbs that your grandparents used. Contrary to reports, incandescent lights are NOT being banned—they are simply becoming more efficient. Not Continue Reading
- Why the BULB Act is Bad for Consumers
The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote this evening on legislation that would repeal efficiency standards for light bulbs put in place in 2007. Please allow us to shed a little light on why this legislation is a really bad idea. In short, the legislation (H.R. 2417, or the “Bulb Act”) would increase Continue Reading
- Your cable box is stealing your money!
Does your cable box stay warm all the time, even when its turned off? That’s a sure sign that it’s wasting a lot of energy. Set-top boxes (also known as “cable boxes”) may not seem like big power users, especially compared to your TV. But in fact, according to a recent NRDC study, the higher-end boxes eat up more electricity Continue Reading
- How to save energy without trying
Wouldn’t it be nice to save energy without really trying? You probably haven’t noticed, but this is exactly what efficiency standards have been delivering to consumers for decades. Congress has gradually moved up the bar for efficiency, which has driven manufacturers to invest in more efficient technologies and make products that cost less to operate Continue Reading
- Energy efficiency: "The Fifth Fuel"
Pop quiz—what’s the cheapest source of electric power? Coal, natural gas, nuclear or renewables? Actually, the answer is energy efficiency. Increasing efficiency in energy usage can be as valuable as producing energy, and it’s a lot cheaper. By reducing our energy usage, we can save money and harmful emissions both directly and by reducing the Continue Reading
News Articles
- SAVE at Last
The Sensible Accounting to Value Energy (SAVE) Act to ensure that energy costs and energy efficiency are considered during the mortgage process. Sounds great, right? CU believes that a proposal that encourages homeowners to make energy efficient improvements is desperately needed, but unfortunately the SAVE Act will make it more difficult for those in the Continue Reading
- Harvard, Stanford, Arizona State, and other leading universities commit $65 million to new energy efficiency financing initiative Source: GreenBillion.org (Tuesday October 11, 2011)
A group of 33 colleges have committed to updating their old energy systems with energy efficient upgrades. They will create revolving funds initially worth more than $65 million, with the hope to reach $1 billion in the next two to three years. The funds will loan money to specific projects and schools will then use the money saved through these upgrades to pay the loans back into the funds. Savings are expected to be high since many university buildings are very out-dated and inefficient.
- Consumers Reports Says 56 Miles-Per-Gallon Vehicle Standard is Good, but 62 MPG is Better
- CU Supports Department of Energy’s Plan for Improving Energy Star Program Source: Consumers Union (Monday May 9, 2011)
- Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee letter regarding lighting standard repeal Source: Consumers Union (Wednesday March 9, 2011)
CU supports efficiency standards for lighting, appliances, electronics, buildings, and vehicles
- CU Says Department of Energy’s Home Energy Score Program Could Help Consumers Save Money Source: Consumers Union (Tuesday November 9, 2010)
Dept of Energy program would let homeowners compare the energy consumption of their homes to others
Consumer Reports
Energy Saving and Green Living Guide
(Consumer Reports)- News: Energy Efficiency (Consumer Reports)
- Test your energy IQ (Consumer Reports, Oct 2012)