An Associated Press article you published about a University of Chicago study (“Home efficiency measures fail to deliver as advertised, study finds,” June 24) may have left some readers with the mistaken impression that all residential energy-efficiency programs cost more than they save.

In reality, the study in question covered only one program in one state. Wider research by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy shows that these programs cost two to three times less than generating power from traditional sources.

Residential energy efficiency is a huge success story for our nation.

Since 1970, energy consumption by new clothes washers, refrigerators, central air conditioners and furnaces has declined by 70 percent, 65 percent, 48 percent and 18 percent respectively. As a result, American consumers are saving real money on their energy bills.

Steven Nadel

executive director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Washington, D.C.


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