Bringing Energy Productivity to Scale

Advanced technologies make it possible for our economies to become ever more productive while consuming less energy with each passing year. The growing suite of technology options on the “demand side” of the energy meter—high-efficiency lighting, appliances, heating and cooling, industrial processes, and price-induced demand response—reduce wasteful and low-value energy use. These tools enable a greater reliance on renewable energy resources by bringing a greater flexibility to the management of the grid.

The untapped potential for energy efficiency is also the lowest-cost means of achieving greenhouse gas reductions.

Key Facts

Energy efficiency can meet 30% of U.S. electricity demand over ten years. Source
A kilowatt-hour avoided by end-use energy efficiency is worth, on average, 18 cents. Source
Efficiency could achieve 40% of the reductions needed to meet the Paris Agreement. Source

Our Focus

The RAP team helps policymakers find ways to overcome institutional and market barriers to capturing cost-effective efficiency and demand response resources. Our recommended strategies include creating energy efficiency obligations; recognizing efficiency as a resource in utility planning processes and air quality management; and designing regulations that break the link between a utility's energy sales and the revenue it collects.

From Our Blog

RAP's experts highlight policy, regulatory, and market solutions to accelerate the clean energy transition.

Browse All Posts

From the Knowledge Center

Get our latest in-depth analysis and practical solutions to today's energy challenges.

Policy Brief

Calefacción con hidrógeno: revisión de la evidencia científica

By Jan Rosenow Read now
Policy Brief March 7, 2023

Clean heat standards: New tools for the fossil fuel phaseout in Europe

By Marion Santini, Richard Cowart, Samuel Thomas, Duncan Gibb, Richard Lowes, Jan Rosenow Read now
Policy Brief March 1, 2023

Regret-ready: A briefing on United Kingdom proposals for the mandating of ‘hydrogen-ready’ gas boilers

By Richard Lowes Read now
Policy Brief

NOx Standards for Water Heaters: Model Rule Technical Support Document

By John Shenot, Nancy Seidman, Elaine Prause, Donna Brutkoski, Steena Williams Read now
Policy Brief February 22, 2023

Better, faster, stronger: A look into further electricity market reforms

By Bram Claeys, Zsuzsanna Pató, Dominic Scott, Andreas Jahn, Michael Hogan Read now
Policy Brief February 18, 2023

Climate Action is Energy Security: Recent Developments in the Power Sectors of India, China, and Europe

By Regulatory Assistance Project, Energy Foundation China Read now
Policy Brief February 18, 2023

气候行动就是能源安全:印度、中国和欧洲电力行业的最新发展

By Regulatory Assistance Project, Energy Foundation China Read now
Policy Brief February 9, 2023

Review of Integrated Resource Planning and Load Forecasting Techniques in India

By Mahesh Patankar, Ira Prem, Frederick Weston Read now
Policy Brief February 7, 2023

Comment on NEA’s latest draft policy “Electricity Spot Market Basic Rules”

By Max Dupuy, Chi Gao Read now
Model Rule

Model Rule: NOx Standards for Water Heaters

Read now
Browse All Research

Events