Why an Energy efficient home?

If you have some idea of the energy consumed (whether usefully or otherwise!) one doe not have to wonder about the necessity for energy efficient homes. Some staggering but enlightening figures have emerged from recent studies carried out in the developed world prompted by the recent energy crises.

How beneficial is your Energy Efficient Home?

Look at the following figures which are applicable for a typical single family dwelling in the developed world located in a cold climate region and having poor building envelope insulation, high leakage rate, inefficient heating system etc.

• Space Heating – 58%
• Water Heating -19%
• Refrigerator - 12%
• Appliances and lights - 11%

Same study show when the building is well insulated, ventilation regulated and leakage minimized, with well maintained or high efficiency heating system the consumption varies to;

• Space heating -36%
• Water Heating -29%
• Appliances and Lights -18%
• Refrigerator -17%

Mind you the above figures are off a reduced energy bill compared with the former table.

Interestingly the study shows the reduction of the energy costs is as high as 100%.

Here lies the necessity for you to have an energy efficient home purely from a personal (one might even say selfish!) reason.

Is that all? Certainly not!

When you reduce your energy bill by half you can divert the savings elsewhere for the benefit of your family and loved ones. This is again personal and may even be selfish if you put it that way!

But frankly the benefits of an energy efficient home are far wide spread than that. Some of this again will benefit yourself indirectly. For example;

• Using Energy Efficiently- More efficient homes and appliances will provide improved comfort, better service and most importantly value for each unit of energy.
• Energy Security - The lesser the energy you and your community waste the better everyone will be equipped to become less dependent on fuel. It does not matter whether it is imported, what form of energy it is even. You become less vulnerable to the inevitable price fluctuations and supply shortages.
• Environmental Protection– Energy derived from fossil fuels still constitute the biggest portion of energy utilized whether in homes, commercial buildings or industry. Therefore the percentage of energy wasted too is generated from fossil fuels. Whether useful or wasted this energy contributes to severe environmental damage. Saving waste energy will save the environment.
• Sustainable usage and development- Reduced wastage is conservation. The by products of petroleum distillation are essential ingredients of modern civilization. Conservation of limited non renewable resources would stretch it over a longer period. In the case of electrical energy the saved energy could be used elsewhere for more households or industries contributing to the national development with more jobs and enhanced productivity.