Next Wednesday, October 6, marks the sixth celebration of Energy Efficiency (EE) Day 2021 (EEDay2021). EE Day is a collaborative effort including dozens of energy efficiency advocacy groups in the U.S., including the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Alliance to Save Energy, National Resources Defense Council, and regional energy efficiency organizations. The goal is to encourage consumers and organizations to save money, cut pollution, and create jobs by focusing on energy efficiency.
NAIMA/Insulation Institute supports home energy efficiency for new and existing homes by promoting state residential energy efficiency code adoption and enforcement. We also encourage homeowners to conduct energy-efficient retrofits in their existing homes. Home energy efficiency, which starts with a well-constructed thermal envelope including air sealing and insulation, has proven benefits.
Better Insulation Means Lower Costs
Insulation saves homeowners money on energy bills and reduces power plant CO2 emissions, which results in a lower carbon footprint. These benefits aren’t new, but they are increasingly important given inflation trends and continued efforts to combat global climate change.
According to ENERGY STAR, the average homeowner spends more than $2,000 per year on household energy costs. And, while the median expenditure by income is roughly 3.5 percent, low-income households experience a median energy burden of 7.2 percent. Improving a home’s insulation can help reduce those costs.
9 out of 10 Homes are Under insulated
Re-insulating existing homes is so essential because nine out of 10 U.S. homes are under-insulated, according to research conducted by Boston University. The annual kilowatt savings potential nationally is enormous, and every state can benefit by focusing on re-insulating homes. But it’s not just homes that need insulation.
In commercial buildings, insulation installed in ceilings, walls, and floors produces energy savings of 13 to 35 percent versus an uninsulated building, depending on the size of the building.
Promote the Benefits of Energy Efficiency
Members of the building community can join in promoting the benefits of energy efficiency by sharing their own messages on social media highlighting the advantages to building owners and occupants. Some 17 cities, counties, states, and universities in the U.S. have signed official proclamations for #EEDay21. Visit the EEDay21 website for memes and tips on energy efficiency and tag your posts #EEDay21 to join the event.
