EFFICIENCY VS. CONSERVATION  Although very similar, energy efficiency and energy conservation are not necessarily the same.  Energy efficiency focuses on maximizing the economic benefits of wise energy use.  Energy conservation focuses on reducing all non-renewable energy use and the resulting environmental damage.  Conservation advocates are more willing to ask consumers for changes in behavior.  Our efforts almost entirely focus on efficiency. 

  By far the cheapest and fastest way to cut carbon emissions is to raise the efficiency of energy use.  At this point, there is little doubt that regulation of carbon dioxide is coming, with the electric power sector as a primary target. While there are technologies both available and in development to mitigate CO2 emissions from power plants, the fact remains that the easiest ton of CO2 to remove from the atmosphere is the one that is not emitted in the first place.  A home energy rating includes estimated greenhouse gas emissions savings data.  By reducing energy usage, you are reducing the amounts of greenhouse gases produced within your home and at the electric plant.

  Your home produces greenhouse gas emissions as a byproduct of burning natural gas, propane, or heating oil to heat your home and provide hot water.  Electric hot water heaters and heating equipment generally don't create emissions directly, but indirectly from the electricity supplied by coal or gas fired generating plants.  In fact, because so much energy is lost in the distribution and transmission lines, electric equipment accounts for more emissions creation.

The efficiency of generation varies widely with the technology used. In a traditional coal plant, for example, only about 30-35% of the energy contained in the coal ends up as electricity on the other end of the generator.  The most efficient gas-fired generators achieve a 60% level of efficiency.  An additional 6-8% of the energy is lost in transmission and distribution.  This means that only about 28-55% of the energy at the power plant actually reaches your home.  A gas furnace on the other hand is required by law to be 78% efficient and the newest modern condensing gas furnaces are 90-96% efficient. The first step to reducing the environmental impact of your home energy usage is getting a Home Energy Rating to  determine sources of inefficiency and cost-effective solutions.

Take the first step toward a cleaner environment.