So, you think your home is pretty energy efficient, but think again. Even though you turn down the heat or air conditioning when you’re not home and even though you make sure you don’t leave the lights on, your home could still be wasting energy. Here is how.
American Consumption – If you live in America, then chances are good that your home is wasting energy. Every twenty years, the amount of energy Americans use nearly doubles. We’re accustom to living an abundant life, so over the years, as more and more electronics become staples in the American home, energy consumption has only increased. How much energy does your family consume?
Our Homes are Inefficient – Okay, so you think you sneaked by our first example, but what if we told you that on top of being an American consumer, the odds that you have an inefficient home are high. Roughly fifty percent of American buildings are inefficient; this means that unless you’ve gone out of your way to make your home energy savvy, it probably isn’t.
Heating and Cooling – When it comes to wasted energy, home heating and cooling is at the very top of the list. Turns out that home heating and cooling combines for approximately one half of your total home energy bill. It takes more energy to cool or heat your home than it takes to power the TV or lap top or do a load of laundry. Unless you’re doing something to keep that cool or warm air in, most of it is being wasted.
The Solution – So, it seems that living in a typical American home isn’t as energy efficient as you may have thought. Knowing this, how do stop your home from wasting so much energy? The first thing you can do is invest in energy efficient windows. Remember how we said that home heating and cooling accounts for at least half of your energy bills? What better way to save money and energy than by keeping temperature controlled air in and outside air out?
