Our future necessitates that we use energy in a better, smarter way. Three major concepts will enable a graceful transition to a sustainable future: energy conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy.

Building performance improvements are practical and truly sustainable solutions that bring us closer to an energy smart future- when energy is created and used in ways that contributes to a better quality of life.

Energy Conservation

For the past 60 years growth in the United States has been propelled by a mindset that fossil fuel based energy is cheap and endlessly available. Today our relationship with energy is changing quickly as a result of ecological, economical, and geo-political realities. The transition to a lower-energy future will be eased with the inclusion of energy conservation into our ethics.

Conserving energy doesn’t mean suffering without modern amenities. Conserving energy in buildings can be easily done with simple lifestyle changes such as using programmable thermostats to reduce heating/cooling loads when we are not in our house, and turning lights off when a room is vacant. Other actions take significant financial investments. “Buttoning up” your attic with more insulation is a very effective conservation strategy.

Energy Efficiency

Buildings in the United States use over 45% of the energy demand in our country. We have the technology, and capability to implement energy efficiency measures for an estimated cost effective energy savings of at least 30%. Since we spend so much of our lives in buildings, secondary benefits include health care related cost savings, increased employee productivity, increased student learning, and ultimately greater happiness.

Most historic buildings in New England, and those that were constructed during the era of cheap fossil fuels suffer from an inadequate building envelope, moisture problems, improperly sized heating or poor ventilation systems. The original settlers did not have the technology or scientific understanding to build efficient buildings (burning 50 chords of wood a winter was normal). Yet over the last 40 years, since the oil crisis of the 70s, energy efficiency and building performance has simply not been prioritized by builders, owners, and designers. Today, it is becoming clear that optimally efficient buildings will benefit our nation’s CO2 emissions, energy costs, national security, unemployment rates, economic recession, and will improve the quality of life for this generation and seven more. A global investment in energy efficiency is a very necessary and practical step towards a sustainable future.

Renewable Energy

Energy from renewable sources undoubtedly must enter the mainstream. Transmission lines need to be built, private and public investments need to increase, and legislation needs to be passed so that dirty energy behemoths get off of federal subsidies. We support renewable energy wholeheartedly, yet we identify that investments in conservation and efficiency are necessary first steps toward a sustainable future.

Sustainability

We strive to incorporate principals of sustainability into all aspects of Cozy Home Performance. The term sustainability is often defined by the Three E’s of Sustainability: economy, environment, and (social) equity.

Energy efficiency for a sustainable economy

Increased energy efficiency can benefit our economy in two significant ways. First are increased jobs; there is a huge opportunity for jobs to be created in the energy efficiency sector. These ‘green’ jobs include energy auditors, performance contractors, HVAC specialists, energy modeling specialists, insulation and weatherization contractors and more. Secondly, investing in energy efficiency for our buildings will save building owners and tenants money in unstable energy costs. This puts more money in our pockets to spend at our farmer’s markets and local hardware stores.

Energy efficiency for a sustainable environment

Globally it is estimated that 76% of power plant generated electricity is used just to operate buildings (source: architecture2030). The great majority of buildings in New England are powered and heated by fossil fuels that contribute to global warming. By reducing the amount of energy our buildings use with energy efficiency upgrades- from converting to CFL light bulbs to deep energy retrofits- we can significantly decrease fossil fuel emissions, mitigating ozone destruction.

Energy efficiency for sustainable social equity

On the macro level, energy efficiency reduces our dependence on foreign oil which has broad geopolitical benefits for the future of the US, our national interests, and peoples all over the globe. Releasing the US of intense fossil fuel dependence will reduce our financing of regimes that compromise human rights. On the micro level, your high performing home will be healthier for you and your kids. Your home will improve your quality of life, and reduce illness.