Earth Day Shines Spotlight on 30-year Progress
Washington, DC – This Earth Day, the American Gas Association (AGA) salutes the 70 million U.S. natural gas customers who have collectively succeeded at doing what no other energy users have done—holding consumption steady. Despite the fact that the number of residential and commercial natural gas customers has doubled since 1980, natural gas consumption has remained about the same. As a result, the average American home uses 32 percent less natural gas now than it did in 1980.
By using natural gas in their homes and businesses, insulating their windows and doors, and using energy-efficient appliances, natural gas customers are using about 1 percent less energy than they did in 1980—and this rate of decline has accelerated to about 2 percent annually since 2000.
“This level of energy reduction is unparalleled in any other energy sector,” said David Parker, president and CEO of AGA. “Natural gas users are making smart choices every day and thus significantly improving their efficiency. And most important, they’re using the cleanest fossil fuel available in the world—natural gas.
“Earth Day was designed to create awareness of what we are doing, and what we can do, to preserve our planet for future generations. Natural gas customers are doing their part by using natural gas wisely. Those efforts are to be commended and encouraged,” Parker said.
President Obama’s administration has clearly identified energy and climate change as top legislative priorities and AGA believes that natural gas customers can, and should, play a key role in successfully reaching these new goals.
“The results speak for themselves—more Americans than ever are using clean, efficient, domestic natural gas,” Parker said. “By doing so, our customers are leaving future generations a cleaner, healthier planet.”