Making every day Earth Day is not a job for one person or one government agency alone. It’s a collective effort of all individuals, private and public sectors alike, from world leaders to the individuals who use energy. “America needs cleaner air, more diverse energy supplies to meet demand, address climate, and reduce dependence on foreign sources.” [DOE]
One of the collective ways to make every day Earth day is having zero-energy homes—homes with their own supply of renewable energy, as well as energy-efficient. This is how the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) foresees a scenario where a home produces its own electricity by utilizing renewable energy from nature or from the sun. At present, the DOE, in partnership with homebuilders across the country, is doing studies on zero-energy homes. Combining advanced building techniques with renewable energy sources such as solar and natural gas, zero-energy homes can minimize the home energy needs from outside sources.
When implemented correctly, these homes should be so energy-efficient that they can sell back excess electrical energy to utility providers. Unfortunately, there is no magical formula for a zero-energy home; it takes a number of factors working together to build one. To reduce a home’s energy consumption to a minimum, a combination of advanced building technologies and materials, renewable energy sources, and smart metering should be employed. Ask your local electric utility if smart metering is available in your area. This device allows you to communicate with your provider about your electric consumption, so that both you and your provider may agree on what adjustments in your service plans should be done to optimize power usage and minimize expenses.
As an individual, one thing you can do to make your home more energy-efficient is to get an energy audit. This is a series of tests that will inform you on how wisely you are using your home energy, and will recommend ways to improve your home’s energy performance. To do a home energy audit yourself, you have to keep a checklist of areas you have inspected, and any glitches found. This will be your guide in prioritizing your upgrades to your home energy efficiency later. To learn more about do-it-yourself home energy audits, check out DIY energy audit.
If you are having your home audited by a professional energy auditor, present him a list of any existing problems, such as drafty, uncomfortable rooms. Also, have a summary of your home’s annual energy bills for the auditor’s reference on what to look for during the audit.
Your upgrades to attain an energy-efficient home would be based on the energy audit once completed. You can do your upgrades one at a time so it will not be a one-time cash-out, and besides, doing it one improvement at a time will be a lot of fun for do-it-yourselfers.
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