Saving the planet for generations to come is the biggest challenge that we as inhabitants confront today. Energy saving is of course the ultimate way in which the environment can be preserved, and also a way to help you save a major chunk of that hard earned money, by only making some minor alterations to the home life style.
To benefit from the revision in the life style, Energy Efficient Homes is the latest phenomenon. In the US energy conservation is the most important method to cut down on the energy consumption – for this the country has resorted to various energy efficient tools, such as, green buildings and energy saving appliances. Furthering on it the US Environmental Protection Agency has put into practice a great idea – Energy Star program that helps consumers and businesses move towards more energy efficient ways.
EPA is proud of the program’s recent achievement – in 2006 12% homes in 15 odd states qualified for the governments Energy Star program saving over 1 billion kWh of electricity and 100 million therms of natural gas. According to EPA, it’s indeed a major achievement to see builders in so many states taking upon the task of providing their consumers with energy efficient homes.
The single-family home needs to have some energy-saving features and about 15% efficiency than the conventional buildings built under the 2004 International Residential Code – this is all that it takes to register a house under Energy Star. Homes that earn the Energy Star, along with being energy efficient, are equipped with all modern features delivering better comfort with lower utility bills.
US plays the blame-game, citing China and other developing nations as the biggest emitters of greenhouse gases – though, the harsh reality is that only home energy use in the US accounts for over 17 percent of the total US greenhouse gas emissions, and about 21% of the total energy consumption comes from houses alone. The high-energy consumption was the peril that gave birth to the Energy Star program in 1992 – that was established with a projected vision of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.
However, realistically, effects of the program have just been minuscule, making Energy Star a compulsion in the US is mandatory – having reached a 12% mark in 15 odd years is a shame for the braggers.
[Image: Mpbuilders]
[Source: Yosemite]
