Understanding Home Energy Use—and What to Do About It

Your home is a sanctuary. A retreat at the end of the long day; a space to gather with loved ones. It’s also a place of purpose: sometimes an office, classroom, play area, entertainment center—all in one.

Through it all, your home should be dependable place of comfort. But to perform all of these functions and more, your home systems must expend energy to keep your home comfortable. And your home’s overall energy use can have a big impact on your wallet.

Did you know that heating and cooling systems account for about 55% of an average home’s energy usage, according to the Department of Energy? And that’s not to mention all of your other home systems hard at work keeping your home comfortable. Water heating, appliances, electronics, and lighting account for the remaining 45% of total consumption.

Your home’s energy usage can have a big impact on the planet, too. Research has shown that the average household’s used energy released an estimated 17,320 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere. That’s 70% more CO2 emissions annually than the average passenger vehicle.

The good news is that making changes at home can help improve energy efficiency, which comes with the added benefits of lowering your energy bills and helping planet.

What You Can Do

Most heating and cooling equipment today is built for energy efficiency. At Rheem, we work hard to innovate HVAC solutions that are good for your home, wallet, and environment. It’s one reason why the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR® has recognized Rheem with the “Sustained Excellence” honor four years running.

If you’re in the market for new HVAC equipment, talk to your contractor about finding an efficient model that’s right for you. Upgrading a home’s heating and cooling equipment can reduce energy use by up to 20% or more, depending on the condition of the existing systems, according to the DOE.

If you’re not looking to buy equipment, there are still options to reduce energy spend and save on your energy bills. Increasing your home’s insulation and reducing air leaks, for example, is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy waste. Proper insulation and air sealing techniques can typically achieve whole-house energy savings of 10-20%. In older homes and homes with little or no insulation, savings may be much higher.

Try some of these low- and no-cost changes to improve your HVAC system’s energy efficiency:

• Clean or replace filters on furnaces and air conditioners once a month or as recommended.
• Clean warm-air registers, baseboard heaters, and radiators as needed. Make sure they’re not blocked by furniture, carpeting, or drapes so air can flow through freely.
• Place heat-resistant radiator reflectors between exterior walls and the radiators.
• During the winter, keep the draperies and shades on your south-facing windows open during the day to allow the sunlight to enter your home.
• During the summer, keep your window coverings closed during the day to block the sun’s heat.

Making these changes might seem small, but they can make a big impact. Get started today or find a Rheem Pro Partner® near you to help.