Save money, live better, help the earth!

Please visit this link for the full, “official” page.  It has the complete story, graphics, pics, all together much better than this post.   http://hes.lbl.gov/consumer

Importance of Residential Energy Use

$241 billion. That’s how much is spent every consumers spend each year on energy for home use. About 1 in 5 of the nation’s energy dollars is spent in homes. Energy efficiency improvements could cut this number by well over half.

90% of your time. That’s the proportion of the average American’s time spent indoors. The quality of indoor air is often worse than the air outside. Moisture and gasses from building materials are some of the many invisible sources of indoor air pollution. When done right, energy efficiency upgrades will also improve indoor air quality and make your home safer and more comfortable.

1.2 billion tons of greenhouse-gas emissions. That’s what is emitted (as carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere as a byproduct of making the energy to power U.S. homes. Every single thing done to save energy at home trims these emissions.

Did you know that the typical U.S. family spends about $1,900 a year on home utility bills? Unfortunately, a large portion of that energy is wasted. And each year, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars.

Right in your own home, you have the power to reduce energy demand, and when you reduce demand, you cut the amount of resources, like coal and gas, needed to make energy—that means you create less greenhouse gas emissions, which keeps air cleaner for all of us…and saves on your utility bills! Plus, reducing energy use increases our energy security.

The Hidden Cost of Home Energy Use

By improving your home’s energy efficiency, you can profit in three ways: save money, improve your life, and help the earth, andy making your home safer and more comfortable.

Many people believe that their car is the largest single source of air pollution for which they are personally responsible. But in fact, the average home causes the emission of more than twice as much carbon dioxide—the principal greenhouse gas—as the average car. This is because most of the energy consumed in our homes is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This pollution is actually a hidden cost for the energy we use, over and above the dizzying $241 billion Americans spend each year on their home energy bills— that’s about $2,100 per house!

Much of this energy use is unnecessary because there are a variety of proven, widely available products on the market today (heating, cooling, appliances, windows, lighting, etc.) to drastically reduce your home’s energy bills, and accompanying pollution. What’s more, many of these products actually improve the comfort and livability of your home.

The example below is for the national average home. Begin a Home Energy Saver session to see an example for your area.

Saving Money

Not only does the environment benefit from using energy-efficient equipment, your wallet benefits too. By using energy-efficient products, such as those with the ENERGY STAR label, you can avoid energy waste and save money on your utility bills.

Think of it this way—whenever you buy an energy-consuming product, it really has two price tags. The first price tag is the initial purchase price. The second price tag isn’t so obvious—it’s the cost to operate the product over its lifetime. Because this second price tag is hidden in your monthly utility bills, it’s easy to overlook. But the second price tag can be large. For some products, it can be even more than the initial price. So when you are comparing models, remember the second price tag before you buy. Products with the ENERGY STAR label come with a smaller second price tag, which means lower utility bills every month for years to come.

When we spend money on new appliances, heating and cooling equipment, or a new home, we want to get the most for our investment. A smart way to make a good investment is to think about energy efficiency. Energy-efficient products often have a little higher initial purchase price than their inefficient competitors. But the higher price is really an investment that will be paid back in utility bill savings for years to come. In fact, investments in energy-efficient products can yield returns higher than stocks, bonds, or many other alternative investments. For instance, buying a high-efficiency refrigerator instead of a standard model can yield annual “interest” of almost 25% on the initial investment.

Living Better

Efficient homes do more than save money and reduce pollution. They’re also more comfortable and safer.

The familiar causes of discomfort — humidity, drafts, cold windows in winter or hot windows in summer — are all lessened by improvements in energy efficiency. It turns out that many efficient building components also enhance safety. Insurance companies are even considering offering reduced premiums for homes with these types of features.

For example:

• Compact fluorescent lamps last longer, reducing the hassle, cost, and risk of injury associated with lamp changes. CFL fluorescent torchiere light fixtures eliminate a serious fire hazard posed by the halogen fixtures they replace.
• Highly-insulating windows improve thermal comfort, reduce ultraviolet fading of furnishings, are a deterrent to burglars, and cut down on exterior noise.
• Horizontal-axis clothes washers remove stains more effectively and trim water and detergent bills.
• Efficient duct systems help eliminate pressure imbalances in homes that can precipitate indoor air quality problems such as backdrafting of combustion appliances or the entry of radon gas into the home.
• Well-insulated ceilings can prevent the formation of damaging rooftop ice dams, and the danger of roof damages or falling icicles.
• Well-insulated crawlspaces reduce the likelihood of frozen water pipes.
• A comprehensive effort to make the home’s walls, ceiling, floor and windows more efficient pays off in terms of a smaller (and thus less expensive) furnace and air conditioner.

Other examples of these “non-energy benefits” are listed here.

Helping the Earth

We all depend on using energy as part of our daily lives. But when we use products that waste energy, we harm the environment. This is because most of the energy consumed in our homes and offices is produced by burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. When these fuels are burned, they release air pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particles that contribute to smog, acid rain, and respiratory disease. Another pollutant, carbon dioxide, contributes to global climate change.

The evidence clearly indicates that we are already witnessing the effect of human activity on the global climate. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use, including the generation of electricity, are the largest world-wide contributor to global climate change. Disruptions now linked to climate change include an increase in the number of severe temperature and rainfall episodes, stress on water resources, and the degradation of natural ecosystems. The consequences span almost every domain of society: our settlements, health, agriculture, and even energy systems.

Created for the US Department of Energy
by the Environmental Energy Technologies Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. ©2010

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