Natural Gas Efficiency
Efficiency remains a resource of immense opportunity for the U.S. and the region. The Northeast states already are national leaders in their per capita energy efficiency, and the utilities in
the region, electric and natural gas, have been active
for years in efficiency programs.
About Natural Gas Efficiency
As the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has noted, efficiency opportunities exist in multiple sectors: "While the roots of natural gas efficiency programs lie within
residential markets, there are now programs serving multiple types of natural gas customers - from homeowners to large industries. There are opportunities for improved energy efficiency
across the spectrum of customers and technologies using natural gas. Programs may target specific technologies that use natural gas, such as furnaces, water heaters, boilers, and cooking
equipment, or they may target the systems and facilities that are served by natural gas technologies. Improving the thermal envelope of buildings is one example of programs that address whole
buildings."
The annual ACEEE State Scorecard for Energy Efficiency (2022 report, released in Dec. 2022 with 2021 data), which looks at both electric and natural gas programs, found that the nine
Northeast states remain leaders in natural gas efficiency program investments. In 2021, $1.7 billion was invested in natural gas efficiency programs nationwide, according to the ACEEE. Of
that, 46% of the national total ($787.6 million) was invested in the nine Northeast states alone (CT, ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI and VT). These gas efficiency program investments -
and energy savings - will continue in coming years.
