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Want to save energy and save money?

It's all up to you and your lawmakers!

How would you like to save energy, hold down your electric bill, shrink greenhouse gas emissions, and grow Ohio's economy?

Here's how you can help.

Your state lawmakers at the Statehouse in Columbus have a choice to make:

Vote to help consumers save energy and money by requiring electric utility companies to help consumers upgrade their homes and offices with energy saving technologies (like high-efficiency light bulbs, appliances, and windows).

Vote to let the coal industry continue to get rich from ever-growing energy consumption.

Don't let the coal industry have the last word. Make sure your lawmakers hear YOUR voice.

Talking Points

Clean energy debate on TV:
See OEC's Public Affairs Director, Jack Shaner, talk about the debate over clean energy this weekend on your local PBS station. Click here for local dates and times. Can't tune in? Watch both parts of this two-part interview from your computer. Just visit this link, then click on the Friday, March 21 and the Friday, March 28 episodes.

OEC press release:
"OEC calls for strengthened energy efficiency standard"

OEC Green Paper:
"Energy Efficiency: our FIRST energy resource"

OEC testimony:"OEC's testimony on electric utility restructuring and advanced energy, December 12, 2007"

Please contact Jack Shaner with questions or comments, by e-mail or phone 614-487-7506.

Subject:

Dear [ Decision Maker ],

(Edit Letter Below)

My family and I want you to make Energy Efficiency the No. 1 goal in whatever Energy Bill the Ohio Legislature may pass this Spring.

Do the math:  Ohioans have two choices to meet our growing electric power demands:

A. Pay an average of 10 cents per kWh of power from the wall socket.

-OR-

B. Pay an average of 3 to 4 cents per kWh for broad-scale Energy Efficiency upgrades (like high efficiency light bulbs, appliances, and windows) through the local utility company - and save up to 6 to 7 cents for every kWh in energy saved.

Consumer experts agree:  Energy Efficiency is the cheapest, fastest, and easiest way to meet our state and nation's growing energy demand.  And every kilowatt of power saved means less greenhouse gas emissions and harmful air pollution.

Best of all, consumers do not have to sacrifice performance to save energy.  New, energy-saving technology - like high-efficiency lights, appliances, and windows - allow consumers to enjoy the same amount of lighting, heating and cooling, and power, yet use only a fraction of the energy to produce these benefits.

The bad news is that Ohio is way behind on Energy Efficiency.  We invest far below the national average in energy efficiency.  And without a strong Energy Efficiency Standard that provides for broad-scale efficiency upgrades at our homes and offices, Ohio will continue to waste energy. This will cost consumers money, send billions of dollars out of state to import more coal, and forego new investment in Ohio-based companies that make, install, and service energy-efficient appliances and products.

Governor Strickland was right to include Energy Efficiency in his Energy Bill (Ohio Senate Bill 221).  And Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted was right to substantially strengthen Energy Efficiency in his Energy Bill (Ohio House Bill 487).  (Read the March 22, 2008 Akron Beacon Journal editorial, "Higher Efficiency" at http://www.ohio.com/editorial/opinions/16974656.html)

Now, it's your turn.

Please, help my family save energy and money. Please support the strongest Energy Efficiency Standard possible.  Thank you, and I look forward to your reply.

For more information go to: http://www.theoec.org/PDFs/Newsroom/021908release.pdf

Sincerely,
[Your name]
[Your address]