Saving Energy

Comprehensive Energy Data and Maps

As the state's energy office, we receive numerous requests for energy data. We hope the compilation of links below will help you learn more.

There is information about fuel types, power generation, pricing, security, distribution, usage, renewables, efficiency programs and types, etc.

For detailed energy data and maps on PA DEP's Energy Programs Office energy projects and programs, please visit our Energy Data and Maps webpage.

Alternative Fuels Map(opens in a new tab) – for alternative fuels and site information
CHP/Solar/Wind Map(opens in a new tab) – for Combined Heat and Power/Solar and Wind information
PEDA and GELF Map(opens in a new tab) – for information about energy projects we have funded

In 2018, the Department hired a contractor to compile an Energy Assessment Report for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania(opens in a new tab) (PDF).

Additional Energy Data

Love to crunch numbers? If you’re like the typical Pennsylvania family, you spend approximately $1,875 a year on your home's electricity bills and consume more than 10,000 kWh per year(opens in a new tab).

Energy Information Administration(opens in a new tab): The U.S. Department of Energy's EIA provides a wide range of information and data products covering energy production, stocks, demand, imports, exports, and prices; and prepares analyses and special reports on topics of current interest.

The EIA's Pennsylvania State Profile and Energy Estimates(opens in a new tab) provides an overview, data, analysis, rankings, comparisons and other information on energy production, consumption, sales and resources in PA.

U.S. Department of Energy(opens in a new tab) (DOE) and National Renewable Energy Laboratory(opens in a new tab) (NREL) have developed the State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE)(opens in a new tab) platform, a website capable of analyzing and sorting data in real-time to quickly assess regional energy system, demand, and resources. The DOE also manages a maps(opens in a new tab) page with links to a variety of energy data information, and an energy data management and evaluation(opens in a new tab) page to assist in developing energy efficiency improvement or data management programs.

National Association of State Energy Officials (opens in a new tab)(NASEO) is the national non-profit association for governor-designated energy officials from each of the 56 states and territories. NASEO facilitates peer learning among state energy officials, serves as a resource for and about state energy offices, and advocates the interests of the state energy offices to Congress and federal agencies. NASEO also provides links and information on each of the State and Territory Energy Offices(opens in a new tab) and their respective State Energy Plans(opens in a new tab).

Energy Efficiency

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (opens in a new tab)(ACEEE), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization, acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors. They maintain a State and Local Policy Database(opens in a new tab) and produce an annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard(opens in a new tab).

The Alliance to Save Energy(opens in a new tab) (ASE), a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and energy security. They generate fact sheets about energy legislation and reports on energy savings in schools.

The Saturn Resource Management(opens in a new tab) is a credible consulting company that offers books on subjects such as energy auditing and energy efficiency in your home, online training and certification courses, curriculum, and free information on reducing your energy consumption. See their blogs on "Sliding Glass Doors: Comfort and Energy," "Attic Vents and Venting," and "Metal Chimney Liners and Other Solutions."

Weatherization assistance(opens in a new tab) provides home energy efficiency assistance for lower-income homeowners through your county.

Energy-efficient mortgages(opens in a new tab) may be an option for you when buying a home.

More sources for energy efficiency: Energy Information Administration(opens in a new tab), National Association of State Energy Officials(opens in a new tab), and EERE(opens in a new tab).

Renewables

DSIRE(opens in a new tab) (the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency) is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the United States.

Renewable Energy Cost Database (link no longer available)
This Environmental Protection Agency database is a compilation of existing cost data for wind, solar photovoltaic (solar PV), solar thermal (CSP), and geothermal energy technologies, including historical costs and projected costs for each.

GATS(opens in a new tab) (the Generation Attribute Tracking System) is a trading platform designed to meet the needs of buyers and sellers involved in the renewable energy certificate market - from homeowners and aggregators to states and other market participants. PJM-EIS(opens in a new tab) (the administrator of GATS) also provides various data, reports and news information about the market and industry including a database of all Renewable Generators Registered in GATS(opens in a new tab).

Solar

The PA PUC Renewables website(opens in a new tab) has facts about solar including the basics and benefits of solar, financing of solar, what's involved with installing solar, and who to contact for help.

SEIA(opens in a new tab) (the Solar Energy Industries Association) is a U.S. national trade association that represents organizations that promote, manufacture, install, and support the development of solar energy. SEIA also maintains a National Solar Database (link no longer available) and a wide range of Solar Industry Data(opens in a new tab).

The Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association(opens in a new tab) (MSEIA) accomplishes its mission by researching, designing and advocating for policies to grow solar energy.

NREL Solar Data-The Open PV Project(opens in a new tab)
This National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) link provides real-time status of the Solar Photovoltaic market in the United States.

Tracking the Sun IV Report (LBNL)
This LBNL report released in July 2013 provides historical summary of the installed cost of grid-connected Photovoltaic systems in the U.S., from 1998 to 2012, with preliminary data for 2013, and includes installed cost trends for utility-sector PV for the first time. The report tracks the installed cost of these systems over time and by location, customer type, system characteristics, and components. 2024 Tracking the Sun Report(opens in a new tab)

Other good solar energy websites:

Solar Education and Resource Center(opens in a new tab) provides education and training.

Solar Energy International(opens in a new tab) (SEI) offers hands-on workshops and online courses in solar PV, micro-hydro and solar hot water.

The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners(opens in a new tab) (NABCEP) offers entry level knowledge assessment, professional certification, and company accreditation programs to renewable energy professionals throughout North America: NABCEP(opens in a new tab).

Bioenergy

AgStar(opens in a new tab) is a U.S. EPA program that promotes the use of biogas recovery systems to reduce methane emissions from livestock waste. In addition to providing information on these systems, their website has a Livestock Anaerobic Digester Database(opens in a new tab) which provides basic information on anaerobic digesters at livestock farms in the United States.

Other good bioenergy websites:

Wind

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in partnership with DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the American Wind Energy Association, released a comprehensive dataset of U.S. wind turbine locations and characteristics that is easily accessible, more accurate, and updated more often than existing wind turbine datasets and can be viewed in the United States Wind Turbine Database Viewer(opens in a new tab).

The American Clean Power(opens in a new tab), an advocacy group that promotes wind energy, can provide you with more detailed information about how it works, how it gets to you, and the benefits of wind.

If you are interested in learning whether wind is practical for you, the size of wind turbine you need, wind systems costs, and other information regarding small wind, check out the Pennsylvania Consumer's Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems(opens in a new tab) (PDF).

Some communities or groups of landowners may be interested in developing their own Community Wind Project(opens in a new tab).

For more information about wind the U.S. Department of Energy(opens in a new tab) is a useful source.

Geothermal

The International Ground Source Heat Pump Association(opens in a new tab) (IGSHPA) and U.S. Department of Energy(opens in a new tab) are two great resources to learn more about this technology.

Production and Pricing

PJM(opens in a new tab) (the Pennsylvania New Jersey Maryland Interconnection) is a regional transmission organization (RTO) that coordinates the movement of wholesale electricity in all or parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. In addition to offering a multitude of real-time and historical data on the electricity market, a streamlined data search page(opens in a new tab) is also available to filter information found on the PJM website.

Alternative Fuels

US DOE Alternative Fueling Station Locations(opens in a new tab) allows you to search for biodiesel, compressed natural gas, electric, ethanol, hydrogen, liquefied natural gas, and liquified propane fueling stations throughout the US.

EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator(opens in a new tab) allows you to estimate your carbon footprint from home energy, transportation and waste usage patterns.

Tools and Resources

Electric Vehicles in Pennsylvania(opens in a new tab) (PDF)
Consumers in Pennsylvania now have many choices to make when purchasing a vehicle, including the option to purchase a vehicle that runs, in part, or in full, on electricity.

Alternative Fuels Map(opens in a new tab)
Welcome to the map of electric vehicle (EV), compressed natural gas (CNG), liquified natural gas (LNG), and E85 (gasoline containing 85% ethanol) refueling stations within Pennsylvania. This map includes stations that were supported by Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Commonwealth Finance Authority (CFA), US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and private funds.

Alternative Fuel Refueling Sites(opens in a new tab)
Find refueling locations in Pennsylvania, that offer the following alternative fuel types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquified Propane Gas (LPG), Electric, Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), Ethanol (E85) and Methanol (M85).

Alternative Fuels Data Center(opens in a new tab)
A source of information on AFVs including lists of vehicles available from manufacturers, national refueling information, emission reduction demonstration studies.

Fleet Buyer's Guide(opens in a new tab)
A web site designed to help you understand how to acquire AFV's.

Fuel Economy Site(opens in a new tab)
The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency have jointly developed a new web-site that allows consumers easy access to fuel economy data.

The Department of Energy's Vehicle Cost Calculator(opens in a new tab)
Use this calculator to compare alternative fuel vehicles with their gasoline-only counterparts.

Alternative Fuel Stations Locator

Alternative Fuel Refueling Sites(opens in a new tab)
Find refueling locations in Pennsylvania that offer the following alternative fuel types: Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Liquefied Propane Gas (LPG), Electric, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Ethanol (E85) and Methanol (M85).

Learn about public health impacts from fuel emissions(opens in a new tab).