Energy security isn’t just about producing more energy at home – it’s about using energy resources as wisely as possible so we need less in the first place and are better equipped for shortages when they inevitably occur. The International Energy Agency defines energy security as “the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price.” The U.S energy efficiency movement began in earnest following the 1973 oil embargo by Arab members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), when gasoline shortages confirmed the severe threats to our economy and national security stemming from widespread dependence on imported oil.

Today, the U.S. would need at least 60% more energy to produce the same economic output if not for the efficiency gains we’ve made in recent decades.

While our dependence on imported oil has waned in recent years with increased domestic production, the U.S. economy remains inextricably tied to global oil markets and, increasingly, other mineral resources far outside U.S. control. Global and national threats to energy security continue, and efficiency – paired with responsible domestic production capacity – should be the first tools utilized to mitigate these threats.

We have made tremendous strides since the gas lines of the 1970s. Today, the U.S. would need at least 60% more energy to produce the same economic output if not for the efficiency gains we’ve made in recent decades. But there is enormous potential for additional progress. Particularly as we move toward renewable resources accounting for the vast majority of our energy supplies, we must embed energy efficiency into our appliances, buildings, transportation system, and other infrastructure to ensure affordable, accessible, and reliable energy for future generations.