Bending the Curve: Implementation of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

This report reviews the implementation of the energy efficiency provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA), including vehicle fuel economy standards, the light bulb standard, appliance and equipment standards, energy use labels, building efficiency policies, federal energy management, and efficiency programs. EISA was passed with bipartisan support in Congress, signed by President George W. Bush, and implemented mostly by President Obama’s administration. Although some policies have languished and some programs were never funded, the key standards have been implemented effectively, and other programs received billions of dollars in Recovery Act and other stimulus funding. We estimate that the law will save consumers over $2 trillion and by 2030 will reduce oil use by almost 3 million barrels a day and overall energy use by 8 quadrillion Btu (about 8%).