Energy Plan

Right in my own home, I have the power to save money and energy. Saving energy reduces our nation’s overall demand for resources needed to make energy, and increasing my energy efficiency is like adding another clean energy source to my electric power grid. This shows me how easy it is to cut my energy use at home and also on the road. The easy, practical solutions for saving energy, from the roof and landscaping to appliances and lights. They are good for my dad’s wallet and for the environment and actions that you take help reduce my national needs to produce or import more energy, thereby improving my energy security.
An energy-efficient home will keep my family comfortable while saving my parents money. Whether you take simple steps or make larger investments to make my home more efficient, I’ll see lower energy bills. Over time, those savings will typically pay for the cost of improvements and put money back in my dad’s pocket. My home may also be more attractive to buyers when I sell. The 113 million residences in America today collectively use an estimated 22% of the country’s energy. Unfortunately, a lot of energy is wasted through leaky windows or ducts, old appliances, or inefficient heating and cooling systems. When we waste energy in my home, we are throwing away money that could be used for other things. The typical U.S. family spends at least $2,000 a year on home utility bills. You can lower this amount by up to 25% through following the Long Term Savings Tips in this guide. The key to these savings is to take a whole-house approach—by viewing your home as an energy system with interdependent parts. For example, my heating system is not just a furnace—it’s a heat-delivery system that starts at the furnace and delivers heat throughout my home using a network of ducts. Even a top-of-the-line, energy-efficient furnace will waste a lot of fuel if the ducts, walls, attic, windows, and doors are leaky or poorly insulated. Taking a whole-house approach to... [continues]

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