- Home energy auditors use specialized equipment to pinpoint energy problems
- Provide customized solutions for improvements
- In select states, Home Performance with Energy Star offers systematic assessments for efficiency and comfort
EPA Announces New Energy Star Tool for Homeowners To Save Money, Energy This Winter
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched its Energy Star Home Advisor, an online tool designed to help Americans save money and energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through recommended, customized, and prioritized home-improvement projects.
Why This Matters
When homeowners take advantage of this tool:
- Families notice savings on energy bills
- Homes become more comfortable
How the Energy Star Home Advisor Works
- Guides homeowners through a “do-it-yourself” energy assessment
- Creates a customized Energy Star home profile
- Provides prioritized recommendations for improvements
- Lets users build their own to-do lists (examples: adding insulation to the attic, replacing an HVAC air filter)
Over time, homeowners can:
- Update their profiles as they make improvements
- See positive environmental impacts
- Get new recommendations
- Refresh their project to-do lists
- Print profiles and use them at the time of sale
Part of EPA’s Energy Efficiency Action Week
EPA regional offices across the country will host events to raise awareness of the cost and energy savings that come from energy efficiency upgrades — especially during winter months.
More on EPA’s Energy Star Home Advisor
Tips to Save Energy & Money This Winter
- Average home utility bills: $2,000 per year
- Heating and cooling = nearly half of that amount
- Sealing air leaks and adding insulation can save up to 10% on heating and cooling costs
- Check HVAC filters every month
- Change filters every 3 months
- Have systems serviced annually by a licensed contractor
- If heating system is 15+ years old, consider replacement with a high-efficiency unit
Today’s Energy Star-certified furnaces:
- Operate at 90%+ efficiency
- Can cut annual energy bills by more than $115
- Avoid heating when not needed
- Save almost $200 per year
- Lower temp by 8 degrees for 7 hours at night + 7 hours each weekday = 12% seasonal heating savings
- Look for the Energy Star label
- LED bulbs are certified for brightness, color, and performance
- Use 50% less electricity than incandescent
- More durable, shock-resistant, cooler to the touch
- Options include dimming and color-shifting
- Laptops/tablets use less energy than desktops/game consoles for streaming
Tips from EPA’s WaterSense Program
Many Americans know the importance of saving energy and water. But fewer know about the drops-to-watts connection — it takes energy to pump, treat, heat, and deliver water.
- Homes with electric water heaters spend 25% of electric bills just to heat water.
Save 2,900 Gallons of Water at Home
- Install WaterSense-labeled products like showerheads
- Replacing one showerhead can save 2,900 gallons of water — the electricity to power a home for 13 days
Install WaterSense Fixtures and Energy Star Appliances
- Nationwide adoption could save 12 billion kilowatt-hours/year
- Saves $775 million per year in electricity costs
Shower Better and Help Save $5,000,000,000
- If every home replaced showerheads with WaterSense-labeled models:
- Save 260 billion gallons of water annually
- Save $5 billion in water and energy costs annually
More on EPA’s WaterSense Tips
Learn More About How Saving Water Saves Energy