Which one of these has the most impact on your energy bill?
A) The green things you do around your home such as adding more insulation or driving a hybrid ?
B) The actual type of house you live in?
C) Where you live?
I read this question and thought I had the answer nailed on the head. What’s your guess?
A recent study done in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that family’s in homes near transit in compact neighborhoods actually save more energy than an energy-efficient family living in the suburbs.
Who would have thought that the old but true “location, location, location” slogan would work for lowering carbon footprints too?
The EPA says location is vital because buildings and transportation together account for about 70 percent of energy use in the United States and are responsible for about 62 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
For example, researchers say that a family living in a typical “detached” house in the suburbs can cut their energy bill by 33 percent by greening their buildings and cars annually. However, if they move to a similar house with better access to transit, but no green features or efficient cars, they can cut their energy use by an average of 39 percent annually. If the family also improves the energy efficiency of their home by 20 percent and gets a hybrid car their total energy savings jump to 54 percent.
The researchers got similar results for townhouses, “multi-family” homes (i.e. apartments or condos) too.
This shows that driving less is just such a big component to lowering costs and energy usage. So if you are in the market for a new house, consider one where you have access to public transportation (or can walk or bike) to get to work, school, and where you have to go.
Tread Lighter when house hunting,
-Phyllis, Green Expert
