Review of the US Residential conservation service

Abstract

The 1978 National Energy Conservation Policy Act established the federal Residential Conservation Service (RCS). The programme is operated by electric and gas utilities, which are required to offer their residential customers low-cost, on-site home energy audits. These inspections are intended to identify cost-effective ways to cut space heating, air conditioning and water heating energy use. But the RCS has been controversial since its inception. Most consumer and environmental groups, many state governments and some utilities think the programme saves energy and serves important social purposes. Yet many utilities and the present federal administration think the programme is expensive and ineffective. Several congressional hearings have been held during the past few years to decide whether the programme should be continued, modified or terminated. The author, Eric Hirst, testified at one such hearing, held by the Subcommittee on Energy Conservation and Power, US House of Representatives in September 1985. This is an edited version of his written statement.