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Residential Energy Efficiency U.S. residences consume about $160 billion worth of energy each year, with a median annual household energy bill of $1,500. RMI's energy experts calculate that the average household can cost-effectively reduce these costs by 10 to 60 percent ($150–$900) or more per household, depending on how energy efficient the home is to begin with, and how aggressively the homeowner reduces energy use. If these individual household energy savings are extrapolated across an entire community, they add up quickly. A community with 10,000 households spends, on average, $15 million each year on heating and cooling, lighting, water heating, and powering appliances in the residential sector. With a moderately active energy efficiency program, this example community could save anywhere from $1.5 million to $9 million every year just in residential energy costs. The payback, the amount of time it takes for an energy improvement to pay for itself, can vary, but is often five years or less for many smart energy investments. As soon as residents start saving money on their energy bills, they’re free to spend it in other ways. The extra dollars that circulate locally help stimulate the local economy. This approach to economic development requires no courting of outside corporations, no subsidies to attract businesses to the area, and no physical expansion. Instead, dedicated citizens work together to uncover and act upon opportunities at home.  www.rmi.org/HEB |
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