The recommendations of the Action Plan are to: Recognize energy efficiency as a high priority energy resource; make a strong, long-term commitment to cost-effective energy efficiency as a resource; broadly communicate the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency; provide sufficient, timely, and stable program funding to deliver energy efficiency where cost effective; and modify policies to align utility incentives with the delivery of cost-effective energy efficiency, and modify ratemaking practices to promote energy efficiency investments.

NAIMA's commitment includes continued sponsorship of the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) database, which lists state and local incentives for consumers and businesses to implement energy efficiency measures and renewable energy.

NAIMA has also committed to the sponsorship of training programs on its 3E Plusâ„¢ Insulation Thickness software program, which calculates the energy, environmental, and economic savings from adding the proper levels of process insulation in an industrial facility, and to share information from a series of research studies it conducted with the Harvard University School of Public Health that quantifies the public health benefits from improved energy efficiency in new and existing homes.

"NAIMA and its members have a long-standing commitment to support efforts that promote and implement energy efficiency, such as the National Action Plan," said Kenneth Mentzer, NAIMA president and CEO.

"We appreciate the opportunity to be part of a broad, coalition-based effort to develop a specific, action-oriented plan to achieve energy efficiency and the resulting environmental benefits through the electric and natural gas utilities."

Publication date: 09/11/2006