4 Improvents to Start

Four Basic Improvements are the Start towards Home Energy Efficiency

Americans just aren’t investing enough in home energy efficiency improvements to save real money. According to a November 1 survey conducted by the Shelton Group, if you really want to cut your energy costs, you need to make at least 4 energy efficient improvements to your home.

This national survey, termed Energy Pulse 2011, polled 1,502 homeowners and renters across the United States between Aug. 9-22, 2011 to learn about their attitudes regarding home energy efficiency and related products and services. The survey found that most Americans tended to make only 2 to 3 energy improvements to their homes (the average being 2.6), which isn’t really enough to bring down their energy bills. As a result, many lost any motivation they had to continue making their homes more energy efficient. However on the other hand, the study also showed that those Americans who made 4 or more energy efficient changes to their houses, did in fact see a decrease in their monthly utility costs.

Home energy improvements that can save you big bucks!

Seal air leakages

Install tankless water heaters

Add insulation

Change to energy saving light fixtures

Most Americans go green to save green – greenbacks that is!

The Energy Pulse study concluded that the number one reason for most Americans to make their homes more energy efficient was in order to save money.

Around 60% of those polled said their utility bills have increased over the past two years, while 71% feel they consume the same amount or even less energy now as compared to 5 years ago.

On average, utility bills need to go up by $112 before Americans are willing to spend on energy efficient upgrades.

Most homeowners think that their homes are already energy efficient. For example, 49% of homeowners rated their homes as "efficient" while only 23% thought their homes were inefficient.

Only 15% of respondents did a home energy audit and only 33% think they need one.

Not surprisingly, low-income households are the least likely or able to make energy efficiency improvements.

32% of low-income household reported their homes as being inefficient in terms of energy usage.

The study concluded that for the most part, Americans are only scratching the surface of what’s possible in home energy efficiency and that the main motivational factor remains saving money rather than protecting the environment. It also points out that a lot of the confusion surrounding energy matters stems from the federal government’s lack of a comprehensive energy policy, and highlights the need for a "national vision around energy and energy efficiency.

An energy efficient mortgage can help with the costs of making your home more energy efficient.

(Video on www.energyefficientmortgage.net)