Energy Efficiency

More common methods of improving residential energy efficiency is to increase insulation in the walls and attic, upgrade or replace windows, plant shade trees or shrubs around the structure, replace old furnaces, hot water systems and appliances with higher-efficiency systems, and replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent and LED bulbs. There are also efficiency improvements to consider when building or planning construction of a new home or building. 

There are a host of home-energy assessment tools that residents can use to determine their home's efficiency. US DOE maintains a national rating system, called Home Energy Score, that calculates the energy efficiency of a home based on its structure and heating, cooling and hot-water systems. The ENERGY STAR Home Advisor can be used to create a profile of a home’s energy efficiency features and identify recommendations for improving efficiency.