Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet

This 2006 fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) outlines the principles of whole building design and climate-responsive architecture to reduce energy consumption in homes and offices. It details specific design features—such as building placement, shell insulation, cool roofs, and efficient lighting—that lower utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions, while noting the challenges of retrofitting existing buildings and the financial barriers faced by low-income residents.

• Energy-efficient homes can achieve heating, cooling, and hot water costs that are 30 to 40 percent lower than those of conventional new homes. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) provides Energy Star certification for buildings that exceed the 1993 national Model Energy Code by 30 percent or the state's energy code by 15 percent, whichever is more stringent. As of May 2006, over 2,300 home builders have participated in the Energy Star Buildings program, with such buildings constructed in all 50 US states.
• Specific structural and design choices significantly impact energy use: tight building shells (including insulation and sealed doors/windows) can reduce heat loss by 25 to 50 percent. Lightly colored 'cool roofs' use 40 percent less energy for cooling than dark roofs, with net energy savings observed in climates as far north as Chicago, Illinois. Additionally, compact fluorescent light bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last 6 to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs.
• The EPA estimates significant household savings from simple efficiency upgrades: replacing the five most common incandescent lights with compact fluorescents could save a household over $60 annually and collectively prevent one trillion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. Programmable thermostats (costing $50 to $100) can save an average homeowner $100 per year, and replacing a pre-1994 clothes washer with an Energy Star model can save $110 annually.
• Barriers to widespread energy efficiency include the higher cost and difficulty of retrofitting existing buildings compared to new construction, and a lack of federal energy codes, which creates a complex landscape of diverse state and local regulations. Furthermore, low-income individuals often live in poorly insulated homes with old appliances and lack the resources for upgrades, though they may access state and federal weatherization programs.

APA

Environmental and Energy Study Institute (2006). Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet. https://www.eesi.org/files/buildings_efficiency_0506.pdf

Chicago

Environmental and Energy Study Institute. Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet. 2006. https://www.eesi.org/files/buildings_efficiency_0506.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |title=Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet |date=May 2006 |url=https://www.eesi.org/files/buildings_efficiency_0506.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{environmentalandenergystudyinstitute2006energy, author = {{Environmental and Energy Study Institute}}, title = {{Energy Efficiency Fact Sheet}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2006}, month = may, url = {https://www.eesi.org/files/buildings_efficiency_0506.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }