On May 10, 2011, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu released the Department of Energy (DOE)’s Strategic Plan, a comprehensive blueprint to achieve the agency's core mission of providing energy solutions to the United States’ energy and environmental challenges.
The blueprint lays out how DOE plans to rebuild the foundation of the U.S. economy with clean energy – in large part by investing in research, developing new technologies and deploying innovative systems. DOE last prepared a strategic plan in 2006, which was less detailed but addressed similar issues, including American competitiveness and energy independence.
Advancing Energy Efficiency Standards
“Improvements in energy efficiency are among the most cost-effective and immediate steps toward attaining our national energy goals,” the Strategic Plan reads. Following the plan, DOE will promote energy efficiency technology and standards to stave off demand for energy and boost the United State’s global leadership position.
DOE plans to make efficiency improvements in buildings, facilities, vehicles and equipment by:
- Reviewing minimum appliance efficiency standards every five years.
- Developing new standards to limit energy intensity for a given class of products.
- Developing efficiency standards and test procedures for 75% of the energy used in buildings.
- Leveraging funds and partnerships to help retrofit 1 million homes by 2013.
“There is a great urgency in the Department’s work today,” said Chu, who noted the need for setting high standards for energy efficiency because energy, economic and national security objectives are all at stake.
Overall Goals of the New Strategic Plan
- Transformation: Accelerate improvements the nation’s energy system and secure U.S. leadership in clean energy technologies.
- Science and engineering: Maintain a national edge in science and engineering as a cornerstone of U.S. economic prosperity.
- Nuclear security: Enhance nuclear security through defense, nonproliferation and environmental actions.
- Framework: Establish guidelines that DOE can really adapt at all levels