Realtors are used to answering questions about available closet space and the number of bathrooms, but there’s a new question people are asking when searching for a new home:
How’s the energy efficiency?
Recent research has shown that more Americans are searching to buy or build an energy-efficient home. And with climate change worsening and energy bills rising, it’s perhaps not much of a surprise that sustainability is shifting to a top priority.
But just how much of a difference does it make? Do homes that help people to conserve energy really help to save money and the planet?
Let’s look at some of the top statistics for energy-efficient homes.
Jump To: Top Home Energy Facts and Statistics | Energy Efficient Window Facts and Statistics | LED Light Facts and Statistics | Sustainable Roofing Facts and Statistics | High-Performance HVAC Facts and Statistics | Residential Solar Facts and Statistics
Energy-Efficient Homes: Statistics and Facts
A survey from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) revealed that 63% of agents and brokers find it valuable to promote energy efficiency in a house listing.
Here are some stats that back up why homeowners are — or why they should be — prioritizing energy-savvy homes.
- Energy-efficient-rated homes sell for 2.7% more than unrated homes, and better-rated homes sell for 3% to 5% more than lesser-rated homes.
- Nine out of 10 homebuyers would rather buy a more expensive home with energy-efficient features versus a cheaper and less energy-efficient home.
- Real estate agents report that energy efficiency adds $8,246 to a home’s value in 2022, up more than $1600 from 2021.
- Homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States.
- To enhance energy efficiency, homes can benefit from upgrades such as air leak sealing, new windows, programmable thermostats, insulation, energy-efficient water heaters, Energy Star appliances, solar panels, and LED lighting.
- Compared to traditional homes, LEED-certified homes typically consume 20% to 30% less energy, with some achieving remarkable energy reductions of up to 60%.
- Residential energy accounts for roughly 20% of annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S.
- A properly insulated attic can reduce your energy bill by 10% to 50%, according to the Department of Energy.
- Switching to energy-efficient windows can save the average homeowner up to $583 per year.
- Inefficient windows lead to $50 billion in energy waste per year in the U.S.
Watch Below: Learn what our favorite science guy, Bill Nye, is doing to improve the energy efficiency of his home.
Energy-Efficient LED Lights for Homes: Statistics and Facts
- LED bulbs use about 90% less energy and last 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, saving the average household about $225 per year.
- An average household dedicates 15% of its energy budget to lighting. Using new technologies can reduce lighting energy use in your home by 50% to 75%.
- LED lights contain no mercury and are 95% recyclable.
- LEDs excel in energy efficiency, converting 95% of their energy into light, while incandescent bulbs waste a staggering 90% of their energy as heat.
- By 2030, LEDs are projected to account for an impressive 87% of all lighting sources worldwide.
- The widespread adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting is projected to slash global electricity consumption for lighting by 30-40% by 2030.
Energy-Efficient Roofs for Homes: Statistics and Facts
Replacing your roof will not only help protect your home from the elements, but it can also drastically increase its energy efficiency. And as it turns out, the best roofing materials for the environment are also the best roofs for lowering personal energy consumption.
- You can save up to 30% on air cooling costs by installing a metal roof over an asphalt one.
- A green roof would save about $200,000 over its estimated lifespan of 40 years, with nearly two-thirds of that coming from reduced energy costs.
- Metal roofs are 100% recyclable after use. Additionally, aluminum roofing materials are made from 95% post-consumer recycled contents and steel roofing is made from 10% post-consumer recycled contents.
- A metal roof replacement will increase your home value by more than $23,000 — more than $6,000 more compared to an asphalt shingle roof replacement.
Energy-Efficient Home HVAC Systems: Statistics and Facts
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are responsible for a whopping 48% of a home’s energy usage. Small changes like switching from a gas furnace to a heat pump or choosing an air conditioner with a better SEER rating can make a big difference for your home and for the planet.
- Conventional air conditioner systems cost over $29 billion annually, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
- The $4.28 billion High-Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Program (part of the Inflation Reduction Act) provides rebates of up to $8,000 to install heat pumps, which can both heat and cool homes. It also provides a rebate of up to $1,750 for heat-pump water heaters.
- Standard water heaters account for 14-18% of your utility bill.
- Energy Star-certified smart thermostats can save homeowners between 8% and 15% on electricity costs.
- According to The U.S. Department of Energy, adjusting your thermostat by 7-10 degrees for eight hours a day can save up to 10% on energy costs.
Energy-Efficient Home Solar Systems: Statistics and Facts
By installing solar panels on your roof or switching to solar shingles, you can rely less on traditional energy sources and generate your own electricity. Plus, housing trends point toward an increasing amount of interest in homes with solar features.
- On average, a U.S. homeowner sees $20,000 of lifetime savings from switching to solar energy.
- Solar installations increase a home’s resale value by an average of 4.1%.
- The cost of adding solar panels has dropped more than 70% over the last decade.
- The number of U.S. homes with installed solar panels has increased by an average of 32% per year since the year 2005.
Energy Conservation: Statistics and Facts
- Americans waste $200 to $400 in home energy expenses per year due to air leaks and outdated HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems.
- Energy efficiency measures, including building insulation and efficient appliances, are projected to save IEA countries USD 680 billion in energy costs in 2022, representing a 15% reduction in their total energy expenditure.
- Making energy-efficient choices helps burn fewer fossil fuels, which helps lessen the bi-product of greenhouse gasses and other air pollutants.
The post Energy-Efficient Homes 2023: Top 33 Energy Facts and Statistics appeared first on EcoWatch.
https://www.ecowatch.com/energy-efficiency-stats.html
Thoreau wrote in Walden that “Time is but the stream I go a-fishing in,” which reminds us that life is short and nature fills it beautifully. What are you looking for that can’t be found during an afternoon in nature?
Earth911 inspirations. Post them, share your desire to help people think of the planet first, every day. Click the poster to get a larger image.
The post Earth911 Inspiration: Time Is but the Stream appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/inspire/earth911-inspiration-time-is-but-the-stream/
Green Living
Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action
Turn back the clock with this classic interview that will get you ready for Spring yard care planning. A lawn may be beautiful but it can take a heavy toll on the environment, accounting for between 30% and 60% of residential water use in the United States. Rob Moir, Ph.D., is president and executive director of the Ocean River Institute in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ORI works with residential lawn owners to heal damaged ecosystems by restoring coastal areas to lessen the destructive impacts of climate change. The benefits of a natural lawn reach far beyond reduced local water pollution, eliminating chemicals that can contribute to cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and other cellular diseases. Natural lawns are also better for local pollinators and store much more carbon than heavily fertilized lawns. If you considered removing your lawn to play a part in the battle against climate change, this interview may change your mind — a healthy lawn is a powerful carbon sink.
The Ocean River Institute is recruiting Massachusetts communities, town by town, to take a pledge to follow natural lawn practices in the Healthy Soils for Climate Restoration Challenge. You don’t need to live in Massachusetts to participate and learn about the alternatives to the traditional, chemical-intensive lawn practices that use Roundup, a source of glyphosates that kills soil-dwelling fungi and local pollinators, and fast-acting nitrogen fertilizers. You can learn more about the Ocean River Institute at www.oceanriver.org.
Rob has contributed many articles about climate change and the history of environmental change since this interview, including:
- Finding a Northwest Passage to the Sea
- Turning the Tide—How Land and Water Shape Our Climate Future
- Learning from Captain Scoresby’s Ten-gallon Fir-Cask
- Earth Savvy?
- Let the Ground Keep Falling Rainwater
- The Sultans of Swag Versus Looking at Clouds from Both Sides Now
- Subscribe to Sustainability in Your Ear on iTunes and Apple Podcasts.
- Follow Sustainability in Your Ear on Spreaker, iHeartRadio, or YouTube
Editor’s Note: This episode originally aired on May 30, 2022.
The post Classic Sustainability In Your Ear: The Ocean River Institute’s Natural Lawn Challenge for Climate Action appeared first on Earth911.
https://earth911.com/podcast/earth911-podcast-the-ocean-river-institutes-natural-lawn-challenge-for-climate-action/
Choosing your perfect gown can be one of the most exciting decisions for your special day, but for the eco fashionista, it can be a challenge to find a dress that fits your values and style — but these brands have exceptional sustainable wedding dresses you’ll swoon over!
Using earth-minded materials like hemp, cruelty-free peace silk, deadstock recycled fabrics and vintage lace, and producing consciously, either in small batches or handcrafting each individual piece made-to-order, the brands below meet high standards for transparency, ecological sustainability, and fair labor.
[For more sustainable wedding dresses, check out this guide to secondhand wedding dress sites!]
Note that the guide contains affiliate links. As always, we only feature brands that meet strict criteria for sustainability we love, that we think you’ll love too!
1. Christy Dawn
Dreamy dress brand Christy Dawn does not disappoint with their romantic bridal collection! Each piece is more swoon-worthy than the next.
Their three sustainable bridal gowns are made from regenerative silk charmeuse —sourced through BOMBYX, an innovative silk producer using best practices — and colored in a beautiful pearl silk with non-toxic dyes. Each dress is ethically cut and sewn by makers in Los Angeles earning living wages, as with the rest of Christy Dawn’s collections.
The Britta Dress and Fitzgerald Dress are 1920s inspired while the Athena Dress is a more modern (but equally romantic) option. All of these dresses are made-to-order with an estimated timeline of 4 weeks.
Conscious Qualities: Regenerative silk and organic non-toxic dyes, ethically made-to-order in Los Angeles
Price Range: $2,500 – $3,000
Size Range: XS – XL
2. Pure Magnolia
Blending the traditional with the modern, Pure Magnolia designs classic-inspired sustainable wedding dresses with contemporary touches. And each dress is made in their Canadian studio by seamstresses earning fair wages from eco-fabrics, such as organic cotton and hemp silk.
The brand sources recycled fabrics whenever possible as well, and recycles their scrap fabric through FABCYCLE.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, locally and fairly made, recycles scrap fabrics
Price Range: $845 – $3,300 CAD
Size Range: 0 – 28
3. Lost in Paris
Lost in Paris crafts each of their creatively designed bohemian-inspired gowns ethically in their Sydney, Australia studio. Unconventional yet undeniably striking, Lost in Paris’ dresses are made from vintage lace and cotton.
Investing in a dress from Lost in Paris is seamless — the brand offers at-home sample try-ons, offers train and sleeve adjustments on several styles, ships their dresses worldwide for free, and even accepts returns. Oh, and, if one of their ready-made sizes doesn’t work for you, you can get a dress designed to your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses vintage lace, locally made
Price Range: $950 – $3900 AUD
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing options
For More Slow Fashion Content:
4. Wear Your Love
Wear Your Love creates feminine, effortless dresses in their Northern California studio that are — in contrast to the majority of wedding dresses on the market — actually comfortable! The brand’s free-spirited designs are made with soft, earth-minded fabrics like organic cotton and each dress is made to order for each bride to their exact measurements.
There are also customizations available for each eco-friendly wedding dress such as train or no train, skirt or sleeve linings, back coverage, skirt style, and more.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model, locally and transparently made
Price Range: $680 – $1,700
Size Range: N/A; dresses are made to your measurements
5. Larimeloom
Based in Reggio Emilia, Italy, Larimeloom crafts exceptional custom-made dresses by hand in their atelier. The brand creates comfortable minimalist dresses from durable natural fabrics and colors them with natural or non-toxic dyes.
Larimeloom has also implemented zero waste design techniques, cutting their patterns strategically in order to minimize fabric waste.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, zero-waste designs, natural fabrics and dyes
Price Range: 650€ – 2,650€
Size Range: XS – XL
6. Sister Organics
Sourcing quality earth-friendly natural fabrics like organic hemp and cotton, Sister Organics creates classic, eco-friendly wedding dresses for UK-based brides.
Each dress is made to order in England, so you can select a pre-defined size, customize the length of a size, or get an entirely different dress made for your measurements.
Conscious Qualities: Eco-friendly fabrics, made-to-order model
Price Range: £125 – £390
Size Range: XXS – XXL + custom sizing
7. Indiebride London
Indiebride’s vintage-inspired sustainable wedding dresses are delicate and romantic yet free-spirited, offering a unique collection for the bride that wants to skip the conventional wedding gown and choose a piece that fits their individual style.
The brand’s conscious wedding dresses are handmade in London using majority natural fibers and can be altered or customized to your specifications.
Conscious Qualities: Made-to-order model, uses many natural fabrics, locally made
Price Range: £1,200 – £1,700
Size Range: 8 – 16 (UK sizes)
More Resources For Your Eco Wedding:
10 Secondhand Wedding Dress Sites for the Eco Bride
7 Ethical Lab-Grown Diamond Engagement and Wedding Rings
17 Brands with Conscious Dresses (great options for bridesmaid dresses in here!)
The post 7 Best Sustainable Wedding Dresses for Your Special Day appeared first on Conscious Life & Style.
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