The year 2024 brought key strategic advancements in the world of energy efficiency—moves that set the stage for a resilient future, while making energy more affordable, reliable, and accessible for all.

Looking ahead to a year that promises more than its fair share of uncertainty, what is for sure is that efficiency initiatives will rely on a continued game of chess, not checkers. Lasting gains won’t be acquired through quick wins but through strategic positioning that builds consensus.

As we prepare for the year to come, let’s pause to reflect on five strategic plays the Alliance and its partners made in energy efficiency in 2024.

1: Securing Key Pieces in Energy Efficiency Advocacy

We moved decisively to champion policies that put energy efficiency first in 2024 and beyond.

Key to these efforts was securing investments within the $27 billion Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF), ensuring efficiency’s role as an enabling upgrade for programs like the Solar for All initiative and in net-zero buildings and distributed energy projects.

Through our advocacy for the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), energy efficiency tax incentives and rebate programs were prioritized as pivotal.

In 2025, we will focus on defending energy efficiency programs and engaging bipartisan lawmakers to build support. Emphasis will be on tailoring the story of energy efficiency, localizing issues, and highlighting broad community benefits.

2: Energy Efficiency Initiatives in Action

Our efforts this year reached thousands of individuals and organizations, empowering them to adopt smarter energy-efficient practices.

Strategic initiatives, like Energy 2040 and Active Efficiency, set clear policy priorities and developed research to set the stage for the next generation of energy efficiency thought leadership.

Watch this video for critical messages that will carry into 2025:

We also conducted workshops on Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) with leading implementers (Sunrun, Sunnova, Onsemble, NYPA, and Puget Sound Energy) providing valuable insights and best practices for addressing DOE’s VPP Liftoff Report challenges.

3: Summits of Energy Efficiency Ideas

Our Policy Summit, themed Demand is the New Supply, highlighted how demand-side energy management—such as energy efficiency and demand flexibility—is transforming energy systems. With over 30 speakers across nine sessions, the summit engaged 85 attendees in discussions on the importance of demand response, VPPs, and behind-the-meter energy efficiency.

The 2024 Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner gathered over 300 leaders to highlight the contributions of trailblazers transforming industries and communities alike through energy efficiency.

4: Expanding the Reach of the Efficiency First Dialogue

The Alliance hit the ground running in Baku, Azerbaijan at the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) this November. Our coalition’s presence at international events like COP is critical: what happens on the global stage impacts US domestic policy and the energy efficiency market for American businesses.

With this in mind, we spent our time in Baku building new partnerships, engaging US and international policymakers, sharing best practices, and participating in a broad range of panels and events where we championed the importance of energy efficiency as a cornerstone of the energy transition. Read more about our COP 29 takeaways here.

5: Teaching the Next Generation of Energy Efficiency Strategists

We connected with thousands of students, educators, and professionals to spread awareness about how energy efficiency is critical in combating climate change and creating a better tomorrow. We did this through our flagship education program EmPowered Schools and student-led outreach campaigns like Tap into Savings, which educates families on the benefits of drinking tap water.

Meanwhile, our newly launched HBCU Retrofit and Modernization Initiative aims to transform Historically Black Colleges and Universities through comprehensive energy system upgrades and the resolution of deferred maintenance.

The initiative will focus on critical improvements, such as upgrading lighting systems and addressing infrastructure needs in residential halls, laboratories, and administrative buildings. These enhancements will create safe, efficient, and comfortable environments, where students can live, learn, and empower themselves to future leadership.

The Game Ahead

2025 is already shaping up to be an extraordinary year. Stay tuned to this space for regular updates on the key strategic moves impacting the chess game of energy efficiency in the year ahead.

We’re already busy preparing for our 2025 Policy Summit: Energy to Eggs: Connecting Efficiency Policy to Economic Growth, which will provide our partner community an opportunity to shape the next chapter in the story of energy efficiency. Click here to take part in the summit program.

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