A recently released report by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency shows that the number of homeowners tuned into energy efficient heating and cooling solutions continues to grow — exponentially. This rapidly expanding pool of energy-conscious customers provides field service and HVAC firms an ideal opportunity to encourage upgrades and overhauls of  legacy equipment and systems.

According to the report, which combines data from 316 utility and nonutility program administrators in 45 states and eight Canadian provinces, the 2010 budget for ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs reached $7.5 billion, a 23 percent jump from 2009.

A few other notable statistics:

  • California, New York, Florida, and Massachusetts accounted for 50 percent (or $2.7 billion) of the total amount budgeted for electric energy efficiency in the U.S., and 10 states represented over 94 percent of the growth in budgets.
  • In the U.S. alone, gas and electric efficiency program budgets increased by 24 percent this year to over $6.6 billion, compared to $4.6 in 2009.
  • Natural gas efficiency program budgets in the U.S. and Canada increased by 21 percent this year to over $1.2 billion, compared to $870 million in 2009.

With these statistics in mind, Mike Moore of HVAC Learning Solutions reminds HVAC pros that energy efficient heating and cooling solutions should be top of mind as they respond to their customers’ needs.

“Every customer interaction is an opportunity to talk about energy efficiency in his or her home or business,” Moore writes. Other ways to promote energy efficiency are by offering extra incentives – on top of the federal government’s up to $500 tax credit – and by teaming up with EnergyStar and using their promotional literature to educate customers.

“Your business doesn’t necessarily need a stimulus package to sell the wonderful advantages of energy efficient heating and cooling systems,” says Moore.

More on the energy efficiency boom on The SmartVan.

ABOUT Sara Suddes

San Francisco-based contributor Sara Suddes writes frequently about small business, the economy and technology.