About SWEEP

The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting greater energy efficiency in Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

To fulfill its mission, SWEEP:

• conducts research and publishes reports on cost-effective energy efficiency policies and practices,
• engages in the legislative process to help enact sound energy policies,
• intervenes before state utility commissions to increase utility demand-side management programs,
• promotes state-of-the-art building energy codes at the state and local level,
• helps to educate consumers and businesses regarding energy efficiency opportunities, and
• organizes workshops to facilitate information exchange.

SWEEP works collaboratively with utilities, state agencies, elected officials, businesses, environmental groups, and other energy efficiency professionals.

SWEEP was founded in 2001 by executive director Howard Geller, who previously directed the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) headquartered in Washington, DC. Support as of 2007 was provided by the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, Energy Foundation, Hewlett Foundation, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Nevada Power Company, New-Land Foundation, North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, Public Service Company of New Mexico, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Wyoming Business Council, and Xcel Energy.

Major Achievements in 2007:

• Helped to increase total funding for electric utility energy efficiency programs in the Southwest region from $93 million in 2006 to $129 million in 2007.
   
• Advocated for 12 bills that have become law, including:
  • Arizona: Increase funding for energy efficiency in public schools (HB 2496)
  • Colorado: Expand utility energy efficiency programs (HB 1037)
  • Colorado: Upgrade energy conservation building codes (HB 1146)
  • Nevada: Pioneering efficiency standards for ordinary light bulbs (AB 178)
  • Utah: Establish a revolving loan fund for energy efficient projects (HB 351)
     
• Engaged New Mexico Governor Richardson’s office to develop statewide energy efficiency goals that were announced in an Executive Order and commit the state to reduce overall energy use per capita 10% by 2012 and 20% by 2020.
   
• Published Utah Energy Efficiency Strategy: Policy Options, a report that analyzes 23 options to meet the Governor’s energy efficiency goal of a 20% increase statewide by 2015.
   
• Hosted the Workshop on Modern Evaporative Cooling Technologies bringing together industry professionals and utility representatives on advancing this energy-efficient technology in the western U.S.
   
• Organized the 4th Annual Southwest Regional Energy Efficiency Workshop to discuss innovative energy efficiency policies and programs in the region and present the 2007 Leadership in Energy Efficiency awards.

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© 2002-2008 Southwest Energy Efficiency Project
2260 Baseline Rd. Suite 212, Boulder, CO 80302
(303) 447-0078 fax: (303) 786-8054 info@swenergy.org
 

Last Updated: 08/12/2008