Zero-Energy Living: How to Slash Your Energy Bills and Go Green
Transitioning to a zero-energy home is a significant yet
rewarding endeavour that allows homeowners to dramatically reduce their carbon
footprint and energy bills while contributing to a sustainable future. A
zero-energy home produces as much energy as it uses during a year, primarily
through efficient energy practices and renewable energy sources such as solar
panels or wind energy. Considering how steep an upfront investment seems to be,
it pays off with long-term savings and environmental benefits for many
households. In this post, we look at what it takes to transition your home into
zero energy status, touching on some real-life data across the United States,
practical examples, and essential steps to get started.
A general reduction in energy usage is the first step to a
zero-energy home. Everything counts, from adding more insulation inside the
house to purchasing energy-efficient appliances. In fact, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy, heating and cooling represent approximately 43% of energy
consumption for an average household. Addressing such areas of inefficiency
will significantly reduce energy use, making it easier to offset with renewable
energy. For example, insulation and installing energy-efficient windows in
colder parts of the United States can reduce home energy inefficiency by up to
30%. Other than the fact that such improvements allow you to reduce your energy
bills, the comfort level inside your home will increase throughout the year.
The other central area of focus in trying to minimize home
energy consumption relates to efficient energy-consuming appliances. According
to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, households with Energy
Star-rated appliances consume 10% to 50% less energy than those with
conventional appliances. Examples include refrigerators: those over ten years
old consume an average of 450 kWh per year, while new Energy Star models use as
few as 200 kWh per year. A practical example is the family that replaced their
old refrigerator with a five-star-rated model, saving around $60/yr at 16 cents
per kilowatt-hour of electricity. These savings add up over time, taking you
further on your journey to zero energy. Savings like these add up over time,
taking you further on your journey to zero energy. Lighting and Electronics
Next While LEDs use up to 75% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than
traditional incandescent bulbs, LED lighting is gaining momentum fast. The
Energy Trust of Oregon estimates that the average U.S. household will save
about $225 per year by switching to LEDs. Smart plugs and power strips will
prohibit "vampire" energy drain responsible for about 5-10% of all
your home's energy use. This avoids energy wastage because of programmable
thermostats, among other home intelligent automation systems. Take, for
instance, the Nest Learning Thermostat, which alone has been proven to save
U.S. homeowners an average of $131 to $145 annually on their heating and
cooling bills, according to a study commissioned by Google.
When your house is already optimized for energy efficiency,
integrating renewable energy systems will be the next big step; solar panels
are the most common. With the balance of home consumption, solar energy is one
of the best compensations. Speaking of which, with the applied tax incentives,
the average cost of a residentially installed solar system in the U.S. runs
from $15,000 to $25,000, given the size and location. As recorded, an average
solar panel system produces about 10,000 kWh per year, capable of keeping up an
average household, as declared by a solar marketplace called EnergySage. In
total, contingent on location and local energy rates, one can save upwards of
$15,000 to $40,000 over 25 years.
The case of the family in Austin, Texas, who installed a 7.2
kW solar panel system in 2020, speaks readily to that fact. Pre-incentives paid
about $19,000 upfront, taking the 26% federal tax credit down to a total of
about $14,060. Their first-year production was about 11,000 kWh, way more than
they needed. They sold excess energy back to the grid by net metering, bringing
their electricity bill down to nearly zero. They said that it would pay itself
off in the long run in 8-10 years and that they could save thousands annually.
Solar panels alone, however, are but part of the equation
when it comes to truly having a zero-energy home. If one wants to make it just
about zero energy for their home, they may want to look into battery storage.
Solar batteries allow one to store the power generated during sunny parts of
the day for use at night or on cloudy days. The Tesla Powerwall is one of the
most installed in the U.S., starting at around $10,500. This has a capacity of
13.5 kWh. This could be helpful for those living in an area with a time-of-use
electricity rate, where energy costs vary at different times of the day. They
will also save money on energy bills by capturing the stored energy from
sunlight and utilizing it during peak hours. Indeed, households in California
equipped with solar panels and battery storage have even managed to cut up to
80 per cent off their electricity bills.
Next to space conditioning, the other energy use within the
home, at roughly 18 % of U.S. households, is heating water. Transitioning to a
zero-energy home will thus need to find ways to reduce this load. Tankless
water heaters, also called on-demand water heaters, are a great option. A
tankless model differs from the conventional one in that the old ones heat
water in a storage tank. In contrast, the tankless model heats only when called
upon, reducing energy waste. As revealed by the U.S. Department of Energy,
tankless water heaters are anywhere from 24% to 34% more energy-efficient
compared to conventional water heaters for households that use 41 gallons or
less of hot water daily. A family in Denver, Colorado, saw its prior $
30-a-month water-heating bill drop by $18 after installing a tankless water
heater - a 40% reduction.
In addition, water and energy consumption are further
reduced when low-flow devices are combined with efficient water heating. Since
less water is utilized with low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, the
energy required to heat the water will be less than before.
Another direction that one might go in the direction of a
zero-energy home is updating your HVAC: so-called heat pumps are installed,
which will help a person efficiently heat and cool one's home on the principle
of transferring heat, which makes them much more efficient. According to the
U.S. Department of Energy, air-source heat pumps can deliver up to three times
more heat energy to a home than the electrical energy they use.
Ground-source-or geothermal heat pumps are even more efficient, and some
systems in this country have achieved up to 600% efficiency ratings. One North
Carolina homeowner called to report that his geothermal heat pump saved him
approximately $600 yearly in heating and cooling costs. Although the initial
installation cost of roughly $20,000 was steep, the money it saves pays off as
a wise investment in the long run.
Finally, proper ventilation and indoor air quality are
essential in maintaining a zero-energy home. Energy Recovery Ventilators
or Heat Recovery Ventilators help keep interior air fresh while minimizing
energy loss. They achieve this by communicating heat and moisture between incoming
and outgoing air, reducing the need for additional heating or cooling. In one
instance, an ERV installation retrofitted an existing home to zero energy for
one Vermont family. Indoor air quality improved, they said, along with an
overall reduction in energy consumption-from about 15% over the previous year.
It is never that smooth to transition into a zero-energy
home, but over again, such paybacks in finance and environmental processes make
it all worthwhile. This blend of energy-efficient upgrades, renewable energy
systems, and smart home technologies can easily enable you to realize your goal
of a zero-energy home, reduce your carbon footprint, and save you thousands of
dollars in the long run. Real-life examples, from coast to coast, prove that with
careful planning and investment, this pays off, and many homeowners attain this
dream of zero energy.
