Quarter 3, Article 8


US loses opportunity with home energy efficency
January 26, 2010
The Daily Climate-Andrew McGlashen
Miller Chapters 16, 17
National
Summary: New Energy Star homes are only about 17% of the market right now, and are hoping to increase because home energy use accounts for 16% of greenhouse gas emissions. American houses are "sick" – damp, drafty, dusty, noisy and expensive to heat and cool – and "could be made at least 30 percent more energy-efficient with highly cost-effective, tried-and-true energy-efficiency improvements," according to Rashkin.Of course, the ultra-efficient heating and cooling systems, high-performance windows and other features that make the homes exceptionally comfortable also make them a bit pricier. The added cost for a new Energy Star home may only be about the price of a night at the movies on each month's mortgage payment, but it's enough to scare off many potential buyers. The high price is offset by the low heat/cooling bill and the electric bill, the energy star homes are 20-30% more efficent than regular homes.
Opinion:It would be great if every new home built followed the energy star example because it would reduce greenhouse gases and even limit heating and cooling bills. When I begin looking at the house market I hope to find an energy star home so that I can help contribute to a greener future.
Greenhouse Gases-gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gases in the Earths atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide,methane, nitrous oxide and ozone.