Some climate solutions are glamorous. Shimmering solar arrays and high speed rail grab plenty of headlines. Some are much less so. No one’s going to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony when you replace your HVAC filter or air dry your clothes, but making sure your home runs as efficiently as possible in dozens of ways—both small and large—can add up to big change. Dialing down our energy use is one of the most straightforward and important things individuals can do to fight back against the climate crisis. After all, residential energy use accounts for around 20% of greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. 1
We’re not even talking about fully decarbonizing your household—though taking steps in that direction is important. Unless you generate your own juice, your home’s really only as “green” as the grid it’s plugged into. That means even a fully electric household should be mindful of how much power it uses up. The task of making your home efficient is doable even if you’re a renter, have limited funds, or just have zero clue where to get started.
This downloadable quick-glance guide includes our best tips, tricks, and hacks for everyone—from beginners to DIY fiends to passive house enthusiasts—to get going on their energy-saving journey.
Energy in the U.S.–and in your home–explained
- What you need to know about the power grid
- What energy sources power U.S. homes
- Your electricity bill, explained
- What uses the most electricity in a house
Energy efficiency in heating and cooling
- Why you should get a home energy audit
- Efficiency upgrades that even renters can take on
- How to keep cool in the summer, without blasting the AC
- How to stay warm in the winter, without cranking the heat
- The basics of ceiling fan maintenance
- A beginner’s guide to energy-efficient insulation
- What you need to know about air-sealing your home
- The basics of cool roofs
- How landscaping can save energy
- Considering a heat pump? Read this first.
- What the heck is smart glass?
- How to apply the principles of passive homes to your house
Optimizing your appliances
- What the heck is Energy Star?
- How to make your laundry routine more efficient
- What you need to know about switching to an induction cooktop
- How LEDs compare to CFLs and incandescent bulbs
- Why you should get a home energy audit
Generating (and storing) your own electricity
- Considering solar? Ask yourself these questions first.
- How to know if a home battery makes sense for you
Rebates and tax credits
- A complete guide to home energy tax incentives
- Explore tax incentives for heat pumps
- Explore tax incentives for rooftop solar
- The Carbon Footprint of Household Energy Use in the United States, PNAS, July 2020 ↩︎