Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements can cost less than generating, transmitting, and distributing energy from power plants, and provides multiple economic and environmental benefits. As President Obama said in June 2009, “By bringing more energy efficient technologies to American homes and businesses, we won’t just significantly reduce our energy demand—we’ll put more money back in the pockets
of hardworking Americans.” Energy efficiency also helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, improves energy security and independence, and  creates jobs.

Local governments can promote energy efficiency in their jurisdictions by developing and implementing  strategies that improve the efficiency of municipalfacilities and operations and/or encourage energy  efficiency improvements in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. The energy efficiency guides in this series describe the process of developing and implementing strategies, using real-world examples, for improving energy efficiency in local government operations (see the guides on K-12 schools, energy-efficient product procurement, combined heat and power, and water and wastewater facilities), as well as in the community.