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Promoting Energy Efficiency

Public Citizen calls for increased investment in energy efficiency. Only through aggressive application of existing technologies - and investments in new ones - can the United States make the transition to clean and sustainable forms of energy production that will protect public health, the environment, and move us towards energy independence.

Public Citizen advocates for national and state policies that improve energy efficiency. Effective policy that prioritizes smart and efficient use of energy through improved building energy codes and appliance efficiency standards, as well as investment in weatherization programs and combined heat and power technology will reduce oil imports, improve reliability of the electric grid, create jobs and save consumers money. Moreover, energy efficiency is the quickest and cheapest way to address climate change.

Absent a robust national commitment to efficiency, many states have adopted aggressive energy efficiency policies. According to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, states are now investing two to three time as much as the federal government toward energy efficiency programs and resources.

Learn more about Public Citizen’s role in:

Advancing Energy Efficiency in Texas

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Public Citizen, Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation

Together, two separate corporate entities called Public Citizen, Inc. and Public Citizen Foundation, Inc., form Public Citizen. Both entities are part of the same overall organization, and this Web site refers to the two organizations collectively as Public Citizen.

Although the work of the two components overlaps, some activities are done by one component and not the other. The primary distinction is with respect to lobbying activity. Public Citizen, Inc., an IRS § 501(c)(4) entity, lobbies Congress to advance Public Citizen’s mission of protecting public health and safety, advancing government transparency, and urging corporate accountability. Public Citizen Foundation, however, is an IRS § 501(c)(3) organization. Accordingly, its ability to engage in lobbying is limited by federal law, but it may receive donations that are tax-deductible by the contributor. Public Citizen Inc. does most of the lobbying activity discussed on the Public Citizen Web site. Public Citizen Foundation performs most of the litigation and education activities discussed on the Web site.

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