If Congress approves the president's allocations, the United States will be able to better achieve the triple promise of energy efficiency – a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13, 2012 -- President Obama's 2013 budget gives financial muscle to his State of the Union energy efficiency message, the Alliance to Save Energy said today. If Congress approves the president's allocations, the United States will be able to better achieve the triple promise of energy efficiency – a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security.

"Even as we see the budget axe taking aim at many programs in both the domestic and defense arenas, the president's decision not only to spare energy efficiency programs but to increase them dramatically is extremely encouraging," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan said. "This budget would use energy efficiency to continue propelling the country toward economic recovery."

"We applaud the president's decision to make big winners of the advanced manufacturing (formerly industrial technologies) and buildings programs within the Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy," Callahan added.

"While it is highly unlikely that we'll see such significant increases when the FY 2013 appropriations are finalized, the administration's vigorous support for energy efficiency at this stage of the game should help ensure that we get funding almost as robust as we have currently," Callahan continued.

"President Obama's FY 2013 budget request for energy efficiency fulfills his State of the Union promises to 'double down on clean energy' programs and to use clean energy policy to shape an economy that's 'built to last' by creating jobs and enhancing U.S. energy security," Callahan concluded.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.