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ACEEE: SmarterHouse Guide to Home Energy Efficiency

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Overview

The SmarterHouse online guide is a helpful resource for homeowners seeking to reduce their energy use by making their homes more efficient, tightening the building shell, or selecting more-efficient products, including appliances, heating equipment, air conditioning, lighting, and electronics.

SmarterHouse Home Energy Breakdown chart

SmarterHouse is a complete and up-to-date guide to energy savings in the home. Following a review of measures to tighten up the building shell itself, the site focuses on the things you put in it your home—including major appliances, heating equipment, air conditioning, lighting, and electronics—and how the energy use of those products can be reduced. If you’re about to buy a new appliance or heating system, you’ll be most interested in the tips on what to look for when buying new equipment. Otherwise, look for guidance on how to get the best energy performance through operation and maintenance of the products you already own. For further information and updates, we’ve included links directing you to valuable resources provided by the government, trade associations, and other sources.

SmarterHouse is a project of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit, 501(c) organization that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors.

Related Resources

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ACEEE: Survey: Marketing and Promoting Electrification Using Behavioral Science

ACEEE surveyed a nationally representative sample of American adults to understand household behaviors and preferences related to home energy use. Results show how to use behavioral science to more effectively market and promote residential electrification.

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DOE: National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building

The DOE has developed a National Definition of a Zero Emissions Building—a building that is highly energy efficient, does not emit greenhouse gases directly from energy use, and is powered solely by clean energy.

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Efficiency First CA: Calculators

EFCA has new calculators! The Air Leakage Calculator, Duct Leakage Calculator, and SLA Calculator will support your efforts to achieve superior energy efficiency.