The first of two orders signed on January 26 was issued to the Department of Transportation, directing it to set higher fuel efficiency standards for cars that come out in 2011. Congress already has passed legislation that says by 2020 cars must hit the 35 miles per gallon mark: under this new order the standard for 2011 cars must be set by March 31, 2009.

Second on the agenda was President Obama's request to the Environmental Protection Agency to allow California and other states' requests to have higher emissions standards than the national standard. Even though for years the EPA allowed California to enforce a higher standard, last year's request was denied. In his comments discussing these orders, President Obama said, “Instead of serving as a partner, Washington stood in their way. The days of Washington dragging its heels are over.”

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan that Congress is reviewing now, Obama and Biden have proposed that 75% of federal buildings be made more energy efficient – a savings of two billion dollars to taxpayers. In addition, they'd like to see two million homes across America get weatherized. There's also money in the proposed plan to make investments in alternative energy so that over three years we'll be able to generate double the amount we currently do, along with 3,000 miles of transmission lines to get this new energy where it's needed. Just this part of the plan should generate more than 450,000 new jobs.

Read President Obama's comments on energy efficiency on the White House blog.