What Is The Current Technology That Uses Energy Efficiently?
Energy efficiency refers to using less energy to provide the same level of service. By reducing energy consumption, energy efficiency helps decrease energy costs and consumption, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and extend the life of non-renewable resources like oil and gas (1). Energy efficiency is an important part of creating a sustainable energy future. In this article, we will cover current technologies that use energy more efficiently across sectors like lighting, heating, appliances, windows, and building insulation.
LED Lighting
LED stands for light-emitting diode. LEDs are semiconductors that emit light when an electric current passes through them. Unlike incandescent bulbs that create light by heating a filament, LEDs are a much more energy efficient technology.
LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy and can last up to 25 times longer than incandescent bulbs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy [1]. This significant reduction in energy usage leads to lower electricity bills. Replacing just one incandescent bulb with an LED in a home can save more than $80 in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulb.
LEDs are also an environmentally friendly lighting option. Their energy efficiency results in lower greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. In addition, LEDs contain no hazardous materials like mercury, making disposal safer.
LED lighting has a wide variety of applications both commercially and residentially. LEDs are commonly used for task lighting, accent lighting, street lights, parking garage lighting, refrigerated case lighting, and backlighting for LCD displays. As the technology continues to advance and costs decrease, LEDs are expected to become the dominant lighting technology.
Heat Pumps
Heat pumps are an energy-efficient alternative to traditional heating and cooling systems. They work by transferring heat between indoor and outdoor air to provide both heating and cooling in one system. Compared to conventional HVAC systems that burn fuel for heat, heat pumps can provide the same amount of heating using much less electricity (Sealed).
Heat pumps provide major energy savings, especially during winter heating. Studies show heat pumps can be 300-400% more efficient than electric resistance heaters. For example, it may take 3-4kWh of electricity to provide 1kWh of heat from an electric furnace. But a heat pump can deliver the same 1kWh of heat using only 1kWh of electricity (Kearney HVAC). This makes heat pumps ideal for cold climates.
There are two main types of heat pumps: air-source and geothermal. Air-source heat pumps are more common and transfer heat between indoor and outdoor air. Geothermal heat pumps use pipes buried underground to transfer heat between the ground and indoors. Both provide major efficiency gains versus electric or gas heating.
Smart Thermostats
Smart thermostats are Wi-Fi enabled devices that allow users to control home heating and cooling systems remotely using a smartphone app or voice assistant. They optimize energy use by learning homeowners’ schedules and temperature preferences and automatically adjusting the temperature when needed. Some key features and benefits of smart thermostats include:
Self-programming – Smart thermostats learn household routines over a period of about a week and begin automatically adjusting the temperature to maintain comfort when occupants are home and save energy when away.[1]
Remote access and control – Users can adjust home temperatures remotely via smartphone app from anywhere with internet access.[2]
Geofencing – Many models use the location services on your phone so that when you leave your home, the temperature automatically adjusts to an efficient setpoint.[1]
Voice control – Smart thermostats can connect with virtual assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice control.[2]
Smart sensors – Built-in motion sensors detect when someone is in a room and target the temperature for occupied spaces only.
Energy savings – Smart thermostats can reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as 10-12% annually for the average home.[1][2] This is achieved through tighter temperature control, built-in energy efficiency features, and remote access that allows users to adjust temperatures on-the-go.
Time-of-use optimization – Some models work with variable rate electricity plans to shift energy usage and reduce costs during high demand times of day.
With convenient app control, intelligent programming, and optimized energy efficiency, smart thermostats are an effective way to save energy and maximize home comfort.
Insulation
Proper insulation is one of the most effective ways to improve a home’s energy efficiency. Insulation works by slowing heat flow through building materials. It traps air between fibers to resist conductive heat flow [1]. The most common types of insulation include:
- Fiberglass – made from glass fibers and commonly used to insulate attics and walls
- Mineral wool – made from natural materials like rock or slag and used for insulating attics, walls and basements
- Cellulose – made from recycled paper products and blown into walls or attics
- Spray foam – foamed plastic injected into walls, attics and other hard-to-reach places
Adding insulation can lead to significant energy savings. Properly insulating a home reduces heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer. The Department of Energy estimates homeowners can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs by air sealing and adding insulation[1]. The typical payback period for insulation is 1 to 3 years through energy savings[2]. Homeowners can use an insulation calculator to estimate potential energy and cost savings in their specific climate and home.
Energy Efficient Appliances
One of the easiest ways to use energy more efficiently at home is to purchase appliances with an Energy Star rating. Energy Star is a program from the EPA and Department of Energy that labels appliances that meet strict energy efficiency standards. According to the Energy Star website, if just 10-30% of homes used Energy Star appliances, the energy cost savings would be in the billions per year.
Some of the major Energy Star certified appliances are refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, and dryers. Studies have shown the potential energy savings from using these appliances compared to conventional models. For example, Energy Star refrigerators can save at least 15% on utility bills while Energy Star dishwashers save around 15-50% on energy and water costs (Energy Star). In addition, Energy Star clothes washers use 25% less energy and over 30% less water than regular models. Energy Star dryers can save over 20% on energy costs as well.
Other appliances that have Energy Star ratings for efficiency include room air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and even water coolers. With tax incentives, rebates, and overall cost savings from utility bills, Energy Star certified appliances can pay for themselves over time through energy savings. For any appliance purchase, be sure to look for the Energy Star label to ensure maximum efficiency.
Source: https://www.howards.com/blog/energy-star-appliance-savings/
Efficient Windows
Installing energy efficient windows is one of the most effective ways to reduce energy consumption in homes and buildings. Modern windows use technologies like double or triple panes, low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings, gas fills, and improved framing to significantly improve insulation.
Double or triple paned windows have two or three panes of glass separated by air or gas, which provides much better insulation than single pane windows. The air gaps between the panes act as excellent insulators. Low-E coatings are microscopically thin metallic layers on the glass that reflect heat back into a home in winter and reflect it out in summer.
Together, these technologies can reduce heat loss through windows by 50-80% compared to traditional single pane windows. This provides major energy savings, as up to 25% of a home’s heating energy can be lost through windows. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates properly installed efficient windows can cut average household energy bills by 12% annually.
Though more expensive upfront, efficient windows pay for themselves over time through energy savings. They also improve home comfort by reducing cold drafts and temperature variations.
[https://spectruminspectiongroup.com/news/energy-saving-low-e-windows/]
Solar Panels
Solar panels, also known as photovoltaics (PV), convert sunlight directly into electricity using semiconducting materials. Sunlight is absorbed by the solar cells in the panel, causing electrons to break free from the atoms, creating an electric current. The electricity generated can power homes and businesses or feed into the grid.
Solar PV system efficiency has increased substantially in recent years. Most residential panels are rated between 15-22% efficient, meaning 15-22% of the sunlight is converted to electricity. Recent advances have achieved lab cell efficiencies over 47%. Higher efficiency panels produce more electricity for the same surface area.
How much energy solar panels produce depends on panel wattage, hours of full sun, and panel orientation. The average US home uses about 900 kWh per month. An optimally oriented 5 kW system in the southwest US could produce around 700-800 kWh per month. Panel costs have dropped dramatically, and federal tax credits can reduce the costs by 26% (as of 2022). Many state and local governments also offer additional incentives.
Smart Meters
Smart meters are the next generation of energy meters that provide real-time feedback to both utilities and consumers about energy usage. Smart meters have advanced metering capabilities and can transmit meter readings electronically to utility providers using secure wireless networks.[1] This allows for remote reading of meters and eliminates the need for manual meter readings.
One of the key benefits of smart meters for consumers is real-time feedback about energy usage and costs. Smart meter displays and apps provide consumers with real-time data on how much energy is being used and what it costs. This empowers consumers to adjust behaviors and make informed decisions to reduce energy usage and costs.[2] Studies have shown that smart meter feedback results in average energy savings ranging from 3-5%.
Smart meters also provide significant energy savings and efficiency improvements for utility providers. The automatic and real-time monitoring capabilities allow utilities to quickly detect outages, reduce truck rolls for meter reading, and better manage the electrical grid. Overall, smart meters are a key technology for enabling greater energy efficiency.
[1] https://www.smartenergygb.org/smart-meter-benefits/benefits-for-britain
[2] https://www.eceee.org/library/conference_proceedings/eceee_Summer_Studies/2015/5-energy-use-in-buildings-projects-technologies-and-innovation/usmartconsumer-real-time-smart-meter-feedback-to-kick-start-consumer-interest/
Conclusion
There are many exciting technologies today that allow us to use energy more efficiently. LED lighting has become the new standard, providing the same brightness as incandescent bulbs but using a fraction of the energy. Heat pumps are also gaining popularity, providing heating and cooling for homes at much higher efficiencies than furnaces and air conditioners. Smart thermostats take efficiency even further by optimizing temperature settings hour-by-hour.
Even simple solutions like insulation in walls, ceilings and floors can make a dramatic difference in a home’s energy efficiency. Energy efficient appliances like refrigerators, washers and dryers also reduce energy waste. Efficient windows with multiple panes and insulating gases pay back their higher upfront cost over time in energy savings.
Solar panels are becoming more accessible and affordable, allowing homes to generate some or all of their own electricity. And smart meters provide real-time feedback about energy use, helping identify waste and reduce consumption. There is much to be hopeful for in terms of future advancements in energy efficient technologies as well.
With most experts predicting increasing energy costs over time, investing in efficiency today can save money and resources well into the future. We all have a role to play in using energy responsibly and reducing unnecessary waste. The technologies profiled here provide options for doing just that.
