Americans are taking charge of their energy use, and their carbon footprints. During the National Clean Energy Summit in August, President Obama declared that “people are beginning to realize they can take more control over their own energy — what they use, how much, when.” Chai Energy is one way that the American consumer can take that control over their energy use. And by doing so, they are helping to meet the US’s climate and energy goals.
The Obama Administration has an ambitious national policy concerning climate change and energy. The national policy includes goals to reduce GHG emissions by 26 to 28 percent below 2005 levels by 2025, to double energy productivity by 2030 relative to 2010 levels, and to reach 20 percent renewable energy use by 2030.
Chai Energy’s mobile app can help the U.S. meet its climate and energy goals by empowering energy consumers. The mobile app identifies a home’s energy waste and then creates customized energy-saving recommendations to reduce that waste by an average of 20 percent. The mobile app allows consumers to take control of their energy bill by giving them the knowledge and tools to save energy, invest in renewable energy, and upgrade to efficient appliances.
Not only does Chai Energy help energy customers meet national targets for GHG emissions, the total energy used, and energy efficiency on a household level, but the mobile app also integrates government incentives that are designed to help energy consumers along the way.
For example, new national energy efficiency standards for household appliances will cut consumers’ electricity bills by hundreds of billions of dollars and save enough electricity to power more than 85 million homes for two years. Chai Energy recommends these efficient appliances to consumers and calculates how much money these appliances will save on electric bills.
The Obama Administration has also worked to make purchasing renewables and energy efficient upgrades more accessible to homeowners through an idea called Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). PACE programs provide low-interest financing for renewable energy, namely rooftop solar panels, and energy efficiency upgrades. Chai Energy’s mobile app educates users about opportunities like PACE that can help save money and energy. And, Chai Energy analyzes consumers’ energy use to recommend specific retrofits, appliance upgrades, and renewables that lower energy costs and are eligible for incentives such as PACE.
Although our national energy and climate goals are lofty, they are achievable through the collective action of individuals. Chai Energy creates actionable ways for individuals to reduce their energy use and lower their carbon footprint. Find out what you can do. Know your power.