Energy Efficiency Gains through Information Communication Technology

The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) has launched a program examining how information and communications technologies (ICT) help organizations, such as federal agencies, perform their functions in a leaner, more efficient and sustainable manner.

Recent studies suggest that ICT applications can reduce our nation's energy use 12 to 22 percent by 2020.

As the largest consumer of energy, the U.S. federal government is uniquely positioned to capture the benefits from ICT and federal agencies are adopting ICT solutions to reduce their energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs. A 2012 C2ES report, Leading by Example: Using Information and Communications Technology to Achieve Federal Sustainability Goals [1] highlights eight case studies detailing examples of agencies implementing ICT solutions. A forthcoming report looks at the initial progress in adopting ICT solutions across the federal government and the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.

In addition, C2ES is a founding member of a new global partnership – ICT for Sustainable Energy (ISEP) [2] – aimed at improving energy efficiency and curbing greenhouse gas emissions through the use of information and communication technologies to achieve the goals of the UN's Sustainable Energy For All (SE4All) initiative [2].

For more information about the project, or questions and comments, please contact ict@c2es.org [3].