home energy efficiency

10Feb10

Borrowing analysis from the June 2009 McKinsey & Company Report entitled, “Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy,” this post on suite101.com provides some impressive figures about energy efficiency potential in American homes.

[The full McKinsey report can be accessed here.]

Efficiency measures in homes could reduce energy consumption by 23% by 2020.  Overall, it would cost about $520 billion, but save about $1.2 trillion.  According to McKinsey, the reduction in green house gas emissions commensurate with energy savings would be equivalent to taking, “the entire fleet of U.S. passenger vehicles and light trucks off the road.”  (1.1 gigatons).

The lowest hanging fruit appears to be in insulation, window upgrades, and HVAC system design.  Better HVAC design can improve HVAC efficiency by 30%.  Historically, home mechanical and energy systems have been independent and isolated from each other, but they should be integrated and combined to optimize potential – holistic planning and integration is key.

The barriers to accessing this great energy potential of home efficiency are numerous and enduring.  Issues such as: information and education, incentives and financing, codes and standards, and deployment resources need to be addressed.

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