Why does the U.S. rank so poorly in energy efficiency?

This is according to 2014 scorecard released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) today. Sixteen nations were studied. Six of the top 10 were from Europe. Canada was the only North American nation to make the cut, placing 9th.

The report’s evaluation of the US was scathing, using terms like “inefficiency,” “a tremendous waste of energy resources and money” and “limited progress.”

“How can the United States compete in a global economy if it continues to waste money and energy that other industrialized nations save and can reinvest?” the authors ask.

Germany passed an initiative named to rid the country of nuclear power and move to green energy sources. To be fair, the cost of electricity in Germany is some of the highest in the world – something like 35cents/kWh compared to the US at around 12 cents/kWh. Still, we should strive to reach a model of efficiency and cost effectiveness that can solve the U.S.’s energy problems.

[More.](http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/21/germany-1-world-energy-efficiency/)