Webinar launches new tool, features energy efficiency tips
Six efficiency professionals shared practical tips for reducing home energy use.
On February 27, a webinar “Saving energy, money and lives: How energy efficiency has changed America’s homes” helped bring energy efficiency tips and a new data visualization tool to the public. The event was hosted by Environment America Research and Policy Center, the U.S. Public Interest Research Group and Frontier Group.
The history and legacy of energy efficiency policy in the U.S.
Frontier Group Associate Director Tony Dutzik shared new insights into how energy efficiency measures have changed energy use in American homes. From reductions in energy use to air pollution and utility bill spending, the data vizualization tool launched at the webinar provides a window into how American home energy use has undergone a silent revolution.
Too many Americans never get to see the changes energy efficiency brings to their lives – this new tool and our expert panel help make energy efficiency gains visible while providing resources for those looking to bring energy efficiency into their own lives.
If we are going to maintain our energy efficiency gains and build on them, the invisibility of this revolution needs to change.Tony Dutzik
Associate Director and Senior Policy Analyst, Frontier Group
Experts from various sectors – from non-profits to consulting groups – shared insights on how previous gains in energy efficiency came about and what attendees could do to improve their home’s energy efficiency.
Maddy Salzman, associate director of market solutions and partnerships at Earth Advantage, and former advisor in the Department of Energy (DOE) shared the department’s history of promoting energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency has actually been core to DOE’s mission from the very beginning. Some of the biggest impacts have been codes and standards that enable policies to support energy efficiency for everybody.Maddy Salzman
Associate Director, Market Solutions and Partnerships, Earth Advantage
In the context of how policy decisions have been transformative for energy efficiency in the U.S., Sapna Gheewala-Dowla – the Alliance to Save Energy’s associate vice president of policy and research – dove a little deeper on one energy-saving program: ENERGY STAR.
When you see that blue label, it means that product or even home has met a very high performance standard for energy efficiency. ENERGY STAR has grown to become one of the most recognized consumer labels across the country.Sapna Gheewala Dowla
Associate Vice President, Policy and Research, Alliance to Save Energy
Practical tips for energy-efficient homes
With this background on how American efficiency gains came about, attendees began hearing from experts with practical tips for implementing energy-efficient technologies in their lives. Marcy Cleveland, co-owner and director of New Energy Project Management shared a whole-home view of energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency really only works when we treat the home as a system. I developed a simple framework for people to help them remember how to do things in the right order. You have to follow the steps of AWE: A for assess, W for weatherize, and E for electrify.Marcy Cleveland
Co-Owner and Director, New Energy Project Management
To help attendees spot potential efficiency problems in their homes, Lorenzo Sanchez brought his experience with home energy audits as the energy director at Groundwork Denver.
Right away, as soon as I walk into a home, I’m looking at the doors. If you can see light around your door, that’s an air leak. Any cracks around windows, that’s going to be an energy leak. You can address that with weather sealing, caulking, (and) door seals.Lorenzo Sanchez
Energy Director, Groundwork Denver
Attendees also heard from Francesca Arato, Director of Education with the Alliance to Save Energy, on the simplest steps for families to take to correct energy leaks and cut back on energy use. Arato emphasized the importance of reducing energy waste by cutting down on “vampire power”.
Use a smart plug so that, with one button, you can shut off all of your appliances to avoid that vampire power – the energy used when your appliances are turned off.Francesca Arato
Director of Education, Alliance to Save Energy
The panel closed with Seth Little, CLEAResult’s senior growth director, who discussed the benefits of energy efficiency for those living in energy-efficient homes.
Energy efficiency is responsible for a significant increase in air quality at the system or the societal level. But one of the things that I would like to leave with you today is that changes in energy efficiency at the individual home level improve indoor air quality in your home.Seth Little
Senior Growth Director, CLEAResult
After the panelists’ presentations, speakers answered questions from the audience ranging from indoor air quality monitors to best practices for difficult-to-insulate attic areas. At the conclusion of the webinar, event moderator Caitlin Soch shared several resources including the following:
Resources
Home energy use data visualization:
How much energy have we saved, on average, compared to 1993? Explore the tool to discover how we’re doing more with less energy today.
Share your energy efficiency story:
We invited attendees to share their energy efficiency stories – and we want to extend that invitation to you, too. If you’ve installed an ENERGY STAR appliance, weatherized your home, or are lighting up your life with LEDs, we want to hear your story. Share your story today.
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Authors
Caitlin Soch
Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Associate, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Caitlin works on Environment America's solar power and energy efficiency campaigns. Caitlin lives in Denver with her Shetland Sheepdog, where she enjoys hiking, paddle boarding and trivia.
Johanna Neumann
Senior Director, Campaign for 100% Renewable Energy, Environment America Research & Policy Center
Johanna directs strategy and staff for Environment America's energy campaigns at the local, state and national level. In her prior positions, she led the campaign to ban smoking in all Maryland workplaces, helped stop the construction of a new nuclear reactor on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay and helped build the support necessary to pass the EmPOWER Maryland Act, which set a goal of reducing the state’s per capita electricity use by 15 percent. She also currently serves on the board of Community Action Works. Johanna lives in Amherst, Massachusetts, with her family, where she enjoys growing dahlias, biking and the occasional game of goaltimate.
Find Out More
National Energy Efficiency Day
Tips for insulating your home this winter season
What is ENERGY STAR and does it matter?
