Energy-efficiency survey results encouraging yet disappointingThe good news is that more than 50 percent of all homeowners in a recent survey by the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) are actively pursuing energy efficiency in their homes. The bad news is that most of them are not looking to utilities to do that. According to the survey of 1,000 homeowners, conducted jointly with International Communications Research, only 40 percent said they were participating in programs encouraging energy conservation and energy-efficiency offered by utilities like time of use rates and energy audits. Specifically, the results revealed that only 25 percent are using time-of-use rate differentials to lower their energy costs. Just 12 percent were utilizing financing options for new appliances. Participation in refrigerator recycling programs was just 10 percent and only 8 percent had conducted home energy audits, even though most utilities provide them free of charge. The results are both encouraging and disappointing. As a result, AESP is encouraging consumers to view utilities as partners with the shared goals of decreasing energy use and expenditures. Survey: Take the Smart Grid Index SurveyZpryme's Smart Grid Insights and FierceSmartGrid are conducting a survey to assess the current sentiment and outlook for the Smart Grid industry on a monthly basis. We would like to invite utility, energy, and Smart Grid executives to participate in this month's survey. Click here to take the survey. "The results clearly demonstrate that consumers are willing to embrace energy-efficiency measures as they do save money and energy. Utilities strive to inform and educate their customers on the benefits of energy-efficiency practices," said Meg Matt, president and CEO, AESP. For more: © 2013 FierceMarkets. All rights reserved. http://www.fierceenergy.com |