What is an Energy Efficient Home?

More homeowners in Northern VA want to reduce their carbon footprint these days. Energy efficiency has become a popular catch phrase or that is so broad that it is sometimes a bit ambiguous. As a NAR Green Realtor I often get asked if a home is an efficient home, which can mean so many things to different home owners and buyers in Northern VA. So what is an Energy Efficient Home?

Energy efficiency means, in its simplest form, employing less energy to fulfill the same service, so a compact fluorescent light bulb can be said to be more energy efficient than a regular incandescent light bulb since the former requires less electrical energy to generate the same quantity of light as the latter.

Read on for a look at the definition of energy efficient, the benefits of being energy efficient, why being energy efficient is important, and what is not energy efficient.

Definition of Energy Efficient

Energy efficiency, which can help people to lessen greenhouse gas emissions and therefore safeguard the environment, refers to using a lower quantity of energy to provide the same amount of energy as a non-energy-efficient alternative. Properly insulating a house, for instance, means that a lower amount of energy is needed to heat or cool the house properly. Using fluorescent lights rather than incandescent lights not only will provide the same lighting intensity, but also will end up costing less on the monthly electricity bill.

In addition to insulation and fluorescent light bulbs, energy-efficient appliance—like fridges, dryers, washers, ovens, freezers, stoves, and dishwashers—can help to reduce energy consumption.

Benefits of Being Energy Efficient

1- Money Savings:

One source notes that the average household in the U.S. spends $5,500 annually on energy. However, using energy-efficient appliances and investing in home improvements to improve energy efficiency can help families to save hundreds of dollars annually. Appliances with the Energy Star rating can reduce electricity bills by 30%, and using energy-efficient lightbulbs can translate into energy bills savings of between 30% and 80%. Another source says that Americans saved north of $30 billion in 2013 on their utility bills as a result of using appliances with the Energy Star rating.

2- Environmentally Friendly:

Of course, energy efficiency benefits the environment. It’s been estimated that the U.S. uses less energy today—56% less, in fact—than it did prior to the rollout of energy-efficient technology and energy-efficient policies.

3- Higher Quality of Life:

Being energy efficient can also improve quality of life. Firstly, pursuing home improvements such as the installation of proper insulation will make homes cooler during the hot summer and warmer during the cold winters—all while potentially lowering energy bills. Secondly using energy-efficient bulbs will mean not having to change them as often as would be the case if using traditional bulbs, which means convenience and lower energy consumption.

What is Not Energy Efficient

A Pew Research study shows that energy efficiency gains are actually being eliminated as homes in America get bigger. Citing research from the Energy Department’s Residential Energy Consumption Survey, the report notes that 53.1% of household energy consumption was attributed to heating up living spaces in 1993 compared to 41.5% in 2009. And household energy consumption related to appliances, lighting, and electronics went from 24% in 1993 to 34.6% in 2009.

Another problem with the energy-efficient label is that it’s sometimes misapplied. There have been cases where equipment with the Energy Star designation have been found to be no more energy efficient than comparable equipment without the Energy Star. As a result, consumers need to take claims of energy efficiency with a proverbial grain of salt and do a bit of background research to find appliances and other products that do as they claim.

Striving to be energy efficient can reap dividends for individuals and households. Pay attention to labels and do your research so you know the true energy efficiency of a product. It’s critical to dig deeper—perhaps by looking at reviews—before making buying decisions. Once you’ve invested in energy efficiency, there are so many ways it can change your life and the world!

Need advice on green resource efficient upgrades? Looking to buy or sell a green home, Resource Efficient Home, HERS rated Home, LEED Certified home, Energy Star Certified home give me a call. I can assist in all your Green home needs in Alexandria, Arlington, Ashburn, Burke, Centreville, Chantilly, Dunn Loring, City of Fairfax, Falls Church, Great Falls, Herndon, McLean, Oakton, Reston, Sterling, Tysons Corner, Vienna, or anywhere in Northern VA. Call Joey Green Real Estate Agent. Article originally posted on my HomeSelfe blog, here.