SWEEP collaborates with utilities, state agencies, environmental groups, universities, and other energy efficiency specialists.

SWEEP also conducts studies and engages in policy advocacy.

SWEEP's main focus is on electricity conservation, but SWEEP intends to address more efficient fuel use and transport issues in the future.

SWEEP has projects underway in the following areas:

state energy legislation

utility energy efficiency programs

building energy codes

analysis of energy efficiency potential

combined heating, cooling, and power, and

home retrofit.

SWEEP was started in 2001 by Howard Geller, who previously served as the Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) in Washington, DC. SWEEP, based in Boulder, Colorado.

Policy Recommendations

SWEEP supports a wide range of state and local policies that will increase the efficiency of energy use including:

Expanded funding for energy efficiency education, training, demonstration, and technical assistance programs conducted by state energy agencies, local agencies, or the private sector.

State-of-the-art building energy codes based on the latest versions of the International Energy Conservation Code for new homes and ASHRAE 90.1 model standard for new commercial buildings.

Energy savings goals, Energy Star product purchasing requirements, financing mechanisms, and other policies to cut energy waste in state and local facilities.

Expanded utility energy efficiency programs including incentives for the adoption of cost-effective efficiency measures.

Tax credits for consumers and businesses that purchase innovative energy efficiency measures such as super efficient appliances, hybrid and fuel cell vehicles, and fuel cell cogeneration systems, or construct highly energy-efficient new homes and commercial buildings.

Minimum efficiency standards for appliances and other products not yet covered by federal efficiency standards.

Interconnection standards, utility regulatory rules, and environmental permitting rules to facilitate the adoption of clean and efficient distributed generation and combined heat and power (cogeneration) systems.

Emissions standards and emissions trading and credit schemes that encourage and recognize the benefits of energy efficiency improvements as part of pollution reduction efforts.

Integrated resource planning and other techniques for identifying and pursuing cost-effective energy efficiency options in the context of overall energy and environmental planning.

Taxes on fossil fuels and nuclear energy based on their full environmental and social costs, along with recycling of new tax revenue to clean energy efforts and other socially desirable purposes.

SWEEP also supports combining individual policies into an integrated market transformation strategy.

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