Improved home energy use has become an area of great interest in many countries because of its promise of cost reduction when it comes to efforts to improve energy efficiency (Clinch & Healy, 2000). High energy costs can have numerous adverse effects. For instance, winter deaths caused by extremely low temperatures have affected people from poor households are not able to afford enough fuel to warm their homes during winter (Clinch & Healy, 2000). The costs associated with inefficient home energy use encourages homeowners to find ways of reducing their energy bills to manageable levels thus making hundreds of dollars annually in savings. Considering that costs saving is the key driver in seeking efficient home energy use, it is important to ensure that the measures taken are both monetarily and socially efficient (Clinch & Healy, 2000). The cost-benefit-analysis of both aspects is important when evaluating energy saving measures for our homes.
The chosen energy saving pathways should be able to contribute to improved health of household members. Both the heating and the cooling of homes whether by use of power generators or air conditioners must ensure that the quality of air in such homes is not compromised (Ryan & Campbell, 2012). Ryan & Campbell (2012) insists that the objective of an energy saving measure should not only be that of reducing the cost of energy bills and energy accessibility but also to free up income and avail disposable income for other household needs. Consequently, contribute overall to improving the living standards of the members of a family.
There are various options for improved home energy efficiency can be applied whether as stand-alone measures or combined measures. Depending on the structural design of the individual housing unit, it is crucial to custom-design energy saving measures. Different homes have very specific and diverse energy needs. Therefore, energy technology designs and the chosen measures should be able to meet those specific energy needs in unit a specific unit with minimal or no negative impacts at all on the lifestyle of the residents. It should achieve this while at the same time upholding the business of saving money through reducing the power bills.
A typical energy audit shows that a slight variation in environmental temperature impacted by weather can result in a huge impact in as a far as energy use and cost is concerned. A slight increase in environmental temperature may result in reduced energy cost because of reduced home heating needs. On the other hand, reduction in environmental temperature would result to need for home heating thus increasing the amount of energy and the cost needed to meet such needs. However, it should be noted that these parameters are controlled by optimum thresholds of lifestyle comfort. An increase in environmental temperature should be in such a way that it will not cause discomfort and interfere with human lifestyle. The discomfort could result from the extent of the need of the introduction of a cooling system that may increase power costs.
Raising the cooling system to a maximum comfortable optimum, reducing the heating system to a minimum comfortable optimum and the use of LED lamps instead of ordinary incandescent lamps may all contribute to reduced home energy use and costs. Weather-stripping may also help seal the house from both heat loss or gain and thus reduce the need for increased heating or cooling. Unnecessary use of superheated water heater while the benefits would still be the same as that of normal heated water can be done away with to save energy. Use of high-efficiency windows, programmable thermostats and the contacting of a professional to weatherize your home could all help in the long-term energy saving in your home. The only impact that this would have in the present would be the necessity of foregoing other social and lifestyle comfort to pay up for these.
References
Clinch, J. P., & Healy, J. D. (2000). Cost Benefit Analysis of Domestic Energy Efficiency. Environmental Studies Research Series (ESRS) Working Paper. 00/02. Dublin: Department of Environmental Studies, University College Dublin.
Ryan, L., & Campbell, N. (2012). Spreading the Net: The Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency Improvements. Paris: International Energy Agency.
