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Upcoming Vote Will Impact Home Energy Bills, Economic Development and Environmental Quality for Years to Come

Posted on: Thursday, 18 September 2008, 18:00 CDT

CHICAGO, Sept. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- While other nonprofits struggle to maintain funding levels, record funding is coming through the doors of eight-year-old Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), (http://www.mwalliance.org/), whose mission is to promote energy efficiency as the fastest, most cost effective way to:

-- Combat rising energy costs and global climate change, -- Stimulate sustainable economic growth, and, -- Help ensure our nation's energy security.

Supported by a $200,000 grant from The Energy Foundation (http://www.ef.org/), MEEA's tireless education and outreach work to advance "The 30% Solution" residential energy code proposal (http://www.thirtypercentsolution.org/) culminates on September 22-23, 2008.

On those dates, the International Code Council (ICC) (http://www.iccsafe.org/) conducts Final Action Hearings at the Minnesota Convention Center on whether to include new efficiency standards in the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The 30% Solution is a comprehensive package of achievable and affordable residential new construction energy-efficiency measures. The IECC is America's model energy code, which is developed and published by the ICC and updated every three years.

"Riding on the outcome of these proceedings is nothing less than the opportunity to leapfrog incremental progress and give homeowners meaningful relief on their future home energy expenditures. Currently, homes use 20% of energy consumed in the U.S. Increased efficiency standards for new homes will provide consumers with an average of more than $500 in energy savings each year," notes Wendy Jaehn, Executive Director, MEEA. "Passage of The 30% Solution will also stimulate market demand for energy efficient products, services and expertise and substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions."

MEEA has been visiting ICC chapter meetings throughout the region, making the case for The 30% Solution and offering travel scholarships for voting members to attend the September 22-23, 2008 ICC proceedings. To date, MEEA has presented to more than 200 ICC members.

MEEA's success in helping The 30% Solution get to this stage is indicative of MEEA's unique multi-state, multi-stakeholder collaborative network, along with its growing emphasis and influence on energy policy.

About MEEA -- The Source for Energy Efficiency

The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (http://www.mwalliance.org/) is a collaborative network advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest to support sustainable economic development and environmental preservation. MEEA fosters market penetration of existing energy-efficient technologies and promotes new technologies, processes and best practices. MEEA unites energy service companies, energy utilities, consultants, manufacturers, nonprofit organizations, state and local governments and academic and research institutions around the common goal of advancing energy efficiency in the Midwest.

Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

CONTACT: Stacey Paradis of Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance,+1-312-587-8390, ext. 12, cell, +1-312-339-0187, sparadis@mwalliance.org

Web site: http://www.mwalliance.org/http://www.ef.org/http://www.thirtypercentsolution.org/http://www.iccsafe.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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