Improve Home’s Efficiency
Practical steps to have a more comfortable, efficient home that cuts your carbon footprint and your power bill without costing the world.
Why is this important?
One of the most effective actions households can take to tackle climate change is smarter use of energy in the home.
Simple changes and cost-effective investments in modern technology bring multiple benefits, inspire friends, and can save average American homes up to $1100 a year on their energy bill (source).
Energy saving programs in the United States in the year of 2050 reduced carbon pollution by 490 million tons, that’s equivalent to 640 million acres of trees (or 28% of the US land area!) (Source)
Key Actions
Switch to a green energy provider
It's never been easier to switch to a clean energy provider and power your home with 100% renewable electricity.
Action:
In the United States search for clean energy providers available in your state via Green-e like Arcadia or ask your utility what options they provide from green energy to free efficient light bulbs.
In the United Kingdom compare green providers at Big Clean Switch.
In Australia compare green providers at GreenPower.
Switch to a green energy provider
It's never been easier to switch to a clean energy provider and power your home with 100% renewable electricity.
Action:
In the United States search for clean energy providers available in your state via Green-e like Arcadia or ask your utility what options they provide from green energy to free efficient light bulbs.
In the United Kingdom compare green providers at Big Clean Switch.
In Australia compare green providers at GreenPower.
Work out the energy efficiency of your home
You can find out the best efficiency improvements including how much money and carbon you can save by booking an energy audit.
Action:
Get started on an energy audit.
Work out the energy efficiency of your home
You can find out the best efficiency improvements including how much money and carbon you can save by booking an energy audit.
Action:
Get started on an energy audit.
Improve your home’s energy efficiency
You could have a more comfortable home and save as much as 20% of your electricity bill through insulation (Source).
Action:
Find out more about the benefits of insulation.
Get a quote for insulating your home with HomeAdvisor.
Light your home the same while costing less with efficient LEDs or CFL bulbs.
When purchasing a new appliance look for the ENERGY STAR label.
Improve your home’s energy efficiency
You could have a more comfortable home and save as much as 20% of your electricity bill through insulation (Source).
Action:
Find out more about the benefits of insulation.
Get a quote for insulating your home with HomeAdvisor.
Light your home the same while costing less with efficient LEDs or CFL bulbs.
When purchasing a new appliance look for the ENERGY STAR label.
Buy a smart thermostat
Get home heating and cooling tailored to you with a smart thermostat and save money and carbon.
Action:
Compare options and install.
Buy a smart thermostat
Get home heating and cooling tailored to you with a smart thermostat and save money and carbon.
Action:
Compare options and install.
Turn-off your appliances after use
Almost a quarter of your home’s electricity usage comes from devices not being used - but this is easy to fix! (Source).
Action:
Add a calendar reminder or post notes and make it easy to remember to turn off your appliances.
Turn-off your appliances after use
Almost a quarter of your home’s electricity usage comes from devices not being used - but this is easy to fix! (Source).
Action:
Add a calendar reminder or post notes and make it easy to remember to turn off your appliances.
Switch to a solar water heater
Heating water is often a quarter or more of a home's power bill and you can save money by getting the sun to heat it efficiently (source).
Action:
Read this complete guide on solar water heaters.
In the United States get solar water heater quotes at HomeAdvisor.
In the United Kingdom get solar water heater quotes at Greenmatch.
In Australia get solar water heater quotes at Solahart.
Switch to a solar water heater
Heating water is often a quarter or more of a home's power bill and you can save money by getting the sun to heat it efficiently (source).
Action:
Read this complete guide on solar water heaters.
In the United States get solar water heater quotes at HomeAdvisor.
In the United Kingdom get solar water heater quotes at Greenmatch.
In Australia get solar water heater quotes at Solahart.
Switch to LED lighting
This is one of the easiest and most profitable actions you can take for yourself and the planet.
Action:
Use this guide to help you switch to LED at home.
Switch to LED lighting
This is one of the easiest and most profitable actions you can take for yourself and the planet.
Action:
Use this guide to help you switch to LED at home.
To Consider
Create seasonal energy savings
Action:
Read this guide for energy savings in fall & winter (fall & winter).
Read this guide for energy savings in spring & summer (spring & summer).
Create seasonal energy savings
Action:
Read this guide for energy savings in fall & winter (fall & winter).
Read this guide for energy savings in spring & summer (spring & summer).
Purchase or build a sustainable home
Action:
Build an energy efficient (new home).
Find a HERS rated house (HERS index).
Purchase or build a sustainable home
Action:
Build an energy efficient (new home).
Find a HERS rated house (HERS index).
Make your yard energy efficient
Action:
Use this guide to energy-efficient landscaping at energy.gov.
Make your yard energy efficient
Action:
Use this guide to energy-efficient landscaping at energy.gov.
Benefit from state incentives for energy efficiency
Action:
In the United States explore what is available with the most comprehensive source at dsireUSA.
Benefit from state incentives for energy efficiency
Action:
In the United States explore what is available with the most comprehensive source at dsireUSA.
How it adds up
38% of all carbon emissions in the USA come from buildings alone. This means there is huge scope to grow jobs modernising buildings while saving money and carbon.
If every American home replaced one incandescent lightbulb with a CFL bulb, the electricity saved would be enough to power 3 million homes. The resulting emission reductions would be equivalent to 800,000 cars off the road (source).
Cutting American electricity consumption by 15% for 1 year would save six American lives a day, and save $20 billion in health related problems annually (source).
Devices in idle power mode represent a quarter of household energy consumption, costing the world upwards of $19 billion annually (source).