Issue Artificial lighting accounts for a substantial portion of energy use in homes. Use of innovative lighting technologies can reduce lighting energy use in homes by 50 to 75 percent. Advances in lighting controls offer further energy savings by reducing the amount of time lights are on without serving a useful purpose and by turning lights on automatically as needed. Overview High efficiency lighting continues to be one of the most efficient ways to conserve energy. Moreover, efficient l...

Issue Circulating hot water systems distribute hot water to faucets on a “closed loop” system that circulates water to deliver it on demand. Heating water accounts for up to 25% percent of energy use in a typical home. High efficiency water heaters use 10% to 50% less energy than standard models. When combined with complementary products like insulation blankets and timers, advanced systems can save significantly on utility costs. Energy savings from high efficiency water heaters depend on se...

Issue Heating and cooling to maintain appropriate conditioning of indoor air consume a large portion of building energy use. Installing the right size equipment to heat and cool homes is essential to getting the best performance and comfort and reducing inefficiencies. A system that is too large will not keep the building comfortable because of frequent ‘on/off’ cycling. Incorrect sizing can also put stress on system components, shorten the equipment’s life, and lead to wasted energy and mone...

Issue Inadequately sealed building envelopes can lead to the movement of unconditioned air into and out of conditioned spaces. This process, known as air leakage, decreases the comfort of a building by allowing moisture, drafts, and undesired noise to enter. It applies to any holes, cracks, or gaps in the building envelope. It is important to control air movement in buildings because research indicates that air leakage can cause huge energy losses, accounting for up to a third of a home&rsquo...