The nation is kicking off the New Year with a bit more promise as the fiscal cliff has been at least in part and temporarily avoided with an eleventh hour drive by our elected officials over the break. While the debate on national spending and tax rates will continue in the near future, another priority — energy efficiency — continues to be an important national goal, and one that will rise to the top of the president’s agenda for 2013. Already, the president has stated his administration’s goal is to reduce the energy impact of the U.S. economy to 50% of the 2010 levels by 2035.