There’s no question that homes have gotten larger, and are still getting larger, even in the face of slower sales and tighter mortgage qualifications. But in something of an anomaly, household energy use is decreasing, according to government statistics.
The reason: energy features built into newer homes. New houses are better insulated, so they use less energy to heat and cool.
The appliances are more efficient, and people living in even the biggest of houses tend to be more aware of the environment and energy waste.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, improvements in the efficiency of the building envelope, space heating, air conditioning, refrigerators and other appliances have all led to decreased consumption per household. For example, multipane windows are now the norm.
About 8 out of every 10 houses built since 1990 have double- or triple-pane, energy-efficient windows, the energy organization reports. About 44 million households have Energy Star refrigerators, and 41 million have Energy Star clothes washers.
In addition, about 40 million householders report using caulk or weather stripping to seal cracks and air leaks, 26 million have added insulation, and 68 million have at least some energy-efficient compact fluorescent or light-emitting diode lights.
Read more at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/home/ct-mre-0120-energy-usage-20130118,0,3520388.story
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