Compared with Florida, Vermont may be a small, skinny state, but we are achieving big results when it comes to energy efficiency. Last year, our investments reduced electricity use by 2.5 percent, making Vermont the first state to offset its growth in electric use through efficiency. Florida has the potential to do the same. The Public Service Commission will consider Florida's energy efficiency potential.

Energy efficiency delivers a "triple bottom line" of benefits. It cuts energy bills for households and businesses, creates good-paying jobs and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. In Vermont, the investments undertaken by Efficiency Vermont, the state's "energy efficiency utility," cost approximately 3 cents per kilowatt hour, compared with 14 cents per kilowatt hour for comparable electric supply.

Vermont's energy efficiency investment in 2008 reduced our state carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 900,000 tons, the equivalent of taking 146,000 cars off the road for a year. The measures will produce more than $66 million in lifetime economic benefits for Vermonters. While Vermont is a national leader in energy efficiency, our experience is not unique. Indeed, the 14 leading states in energy efficiency have set goals to reduce electric requirements by at least 1.5 percent per year. Were Florida to set even a modest target of a 1 percent reduction in electric requirements each year, Florida families and businesses would see lower bills, more jobs and a cleaner environment.

Improving efficiency requires electricians, heating and air conditioning installers, carpenters, roofers and more to deliver the services and products that reduce customer bills. The American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy estimates that 19,754 Florida jobs could be created by 2020 through a ramp-up of efficiency.

Energy efficiency would allow Florida to achieve its environmental goals while also saving customers money and creating jobs. Sound too good to be true? In this case, it isn't. Energy efficiency is already bringing big savings and environmental benefits to electric customers and those employed in the growing clean energy industry in Vermont and a score of other states. Energy efficiency works for Vermont, and it can work for Florida, too.

Blair Hamilton

Burlington, VT