Residential dehumidification has several benefits, including improved comfort, prevention of mold and mildew, and better respiratory health. Low humidity enabled by dehumidifiers also helps air feel cooler, allowing residents to set their thermostats at higher in the summer without sacrificing comfort. This can reduce the workload of the air conditioning system and save homeowners money.
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Would it surprise you to learn that 82 percent of companies are currently using or exploring artificial intelligence (AI) in their operations? Further, 84 percent report they are increasing their investments in data and AI.[1] That’s because AI has a near limitless capability to aid businesses and organizations in their effort to help boost energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, support clean energy technologies, and address climate change. Here are three specific ways AI is driving energy efficiency.
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State and local governments across the country are adopting Building Performance standards (BPS), and the pace of adoption for such standards will only accelerate as jurisdictions look to cut greenhouse gas emissions, boost building energy efficiency, and lower energy use. In 2023, 10 local jurisdictions across the U.S. launched BPS policies, including New Jersey, California, Colorado, Maryland, and Minnesota.
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We end this year as we’ve done for the past 7 with a list of our top blog posts. If you’ve been following our blog for a few years, thank you for your loyalty. We hope we’ve shared interesting, thought-provoking topics and look forward to bringing you more content in the new year!
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Researchers at Purdue University this week announced the creation of a patent-pending Internet of Things (IoT) software program called MySmartE that incentives people to use energy efficiency programs offered by the government and industry. Why does that matter? The lack of residential engagement with energy efficiency programs to measurably reduce energy use is stymying efforts to decarbonize the built environment, a priority for virtually every government and industry. Early results show that gamification might just do the trick.
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One of the dirty little secrets of modern home building is that some high-performance building programs allow home sampling or assigning all homes within a development the same performance characteristics or scoring as a reference home. The implementation of sampling was always challenging to monitor and assess. The implied promise for each home built to a specific high-performance certification target (i.e., HERS-rated, ENERGY STAR, Earth Craft, and others) is that it was inspected individually by a trained and certified energy performance professional. Of course, all homes, not just those built to the requirements of a home performance certification program, should be inspected. Still, these inspections are crucial to ensure quality and performance for buyers paying a performance premium.
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WalletHub has released its annual survey of America’s most and least energy-efficient states. The personal finance site’s evaluation of residential energy efficiency notes that the average U.S. family spends at least $2,000 annually on utilities. Notably, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that adopting energy-efficient measures (such as air sealing and adding additional insulation) in a home could reduce utility bills by 25 percent.
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With affordability at the top of the list for home buyers today, shopping for a home that will be budget-friendly to purchase and own is a priority for most buyers. A new one-stop shopping platform for energy-efficient homes is looking to change how Americans buy homes by elevating energy efficiency in the purchase process. Furthermore, it’s giving buyers of energy-efficient homes up to two years of free electricity as an incentive to buy a home.
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Next Wednesday, October 4, is Energy Efficiency (EE) Day 2023. This annual event, a collaborative effort of dozens of energy efficiency organizations, including the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE), Advanced Energy United, The Alliance to Save Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Regional Energy Efficiency Organizations (REEOs) promotes a simple message: Save Money, Cut Pollution, Save Jobs.
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy Better Buildings Residential Network offers industry members an opportunity to keep abreast of energy efficiency and electrification rebates and incentives and the details associated with them. Industry members can register for Peer Exchange Calls. These calls cover key details of incentives available through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA).
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