Curb M10, equipped with 10 energy sensors (CT clamps) that can monitor all the key electrical activities in a home, will allow for accurate tracking of appliance energy usage and aid homeowners and operators in lowering rising energy costs through actionable insights delivered via the Curb app, web interface and email reports. In addition, M10 will track solar production data with its continuous cellular connectivity capabilities and monitor high home energy consumers, such as HVAC systems, EV chargers, water heaters, pools, stoves/ovens, clothes dryers, lighting and more.

M10 is the latest device to connect with Elevation’s Curb cloud-based, AI-enabled smart energy engagement platform. When deployed in a home, Curb receives energy usage data from thousands of sensors in real-time and mines this information to provide actionable insights on energy efficiency patterns and device health. For instance, Curb M10 could predict an HVAC outage or malfunction in advance, mitigating expensive and frustrating repairs or replacements. M10 represents the latest evolution of the Curb product line and pairs years of available Curb’s intelligent, actionable home energy data with new features focused on improving connectivity, reliability and ease-of-use.

Rental operators are increasingly seeking solutions that will enable them to invest in the efficiency and longevity of their portfolio homes for both the betterment of the environment and their bottom line. Curb M10 offers the SFR industry a scalable, easy-to-deploy solution for lowering operating costs and emissions with real-time data monitoring and insights. Similar to existing products in the Curb family, M10 is also designed to empower residents to optimize their relationship with energy through its user-friendly interface and advanced communication capabilities.

“Curb M10 arrives at a time when eco-friendly features continue to be preferred by both renters and homeowners nationwide,” said Greg Fasullo, CEO of Elevation. “Across most SFR portfolios, energy bills are the second-highest cost for tenants after rent. We’re excited to introduce the M10 as a scalable solution for portfolios of all sizes that will deliver measurable cost-saving benefits for operators and residents. With reliable connectivity, a reduced installation time and a more seamless configuration interface, M10 will bring energy efficiency insights and invaluable real-time data to consumers and operators.”

With energy prices expected to remain high throughout 2023, M10 is poised to become an essential and impactful solution for the residential real estate industry. In the face of a historically turbulent housing market, there is a tremendous opportunity for both operators and residents to take greater control of their energy use, carbon footprint and costs with efficiency and technology upgrades. With the launch of M10 and its existing portfolio of whole home energy solutions, Elevation remains committed to offering rental operators solutions to lower emissions, reduce utility costs and improve tenant comfort.

To learn more about the M10 energy monitoring device, please visit: https://www.poweredbyelevation.com/curb-energy-monitoring

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About Elevation

Elevation is a fully integrated residential energy solutions company. As a leader in clean energy technology including solar, energy efficiency, and smart energy management platforms, Elevation takes a whole home approach to energy and sets the industry standard in its deployment of technology to homeowners, institutional operators of single-family rental properties, and utility providers.

As a 2019, 2020, and 2021 Contractor of the Year recipient by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Elevation team possesses extensive knowledge in both the single-family rental market and residential solar spaces. Elevation goes beyond solar to create an Elevated Home and collects data to analyze the direct impact of its solutions. In just one year, Elevation’s customers helped to avoid 128,738 tons of carbon dioxide. For more information, please visit https://www.poweredbyelevation.com.

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The impact of these recent executive actions may not be felt immediately. However, forward-thinking real estate leaders have an immediate opportunity to ride this momentum, and to leverage future investments made in domestic clean energy production. These groups have an opportunity to act now to adopt solutions like solar, home energy efficiency, and monitoring – at scale – to accelerate this U.S. transition to clean energy, one rental property at a time.

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More Power to Homeowners, Managers, and Investors

In the next decade, it’s predicted that 12 percent of all new homes built in the U.S. will be single family rentals (SFR). Many of these homes are owned by larger investment groups and management companies. The DPA will reduce the costs of adopting clean energy for individual residential customers, as well as property managers owning and operating portfolios of single-family homes.

Lower costs and higher availability of materials will make energy efficiency retrofit projects in the SFR market more viable. Homes that have been upgraded with renewable generation, efficient appliances, and energy monitoring are transformed from sources of strain on the grid, to potential assets for decarbonization and utility support. What’s more, reducing emissions produced by millions of single-family homes will propel the real estate industry toward a more sustainable future.

Amid all the momentum driven by legislation and heightened private sector innovation, many American renters are still left out of the equation when it comes to residential clean energy technologies. Supply chain and cost barriers aside, we have an abundance of options for retrofitting homes to increase energy efficiency and boost clean energy production. Since renters do not own their homes, most don’t know how or if they can approach these upgrades. By leveraging local and national incentives and price structures to bring these technologies to entire portfolios at scale, SFR owners and management companies are not only lowering their carbon footprint, they are introducing more Americans to the benefits of a sustainable and efficient home. Owners that pursue clean energy projects in their rental communities are investing in the planet, and laying the foundation for their renters to one day become homeowners with mindful energy-efficient habits.

The DPA makes the integration of clean technology more accessible, both through new home construction and existing home upgrades. Many of the materials needed to complete these projects will be manufactured in the U.S., eliminating international fees or tariffs, and shortening wait times for production and delivery. And, with a two-year bridge on select solar imports from countries like Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam (currently in effect), any essential technologies or components that cannot be sourced from U.S. manufacturers will also be lucrative options for maintaining momentum of clean energy projects.

More reliable access to quality materials, from a broad variety of U.S. and international PV and battery technology manufacturers, will help SFRs reduce the carbon footprints of their portfolios – and better utilize the clean energy they generate and store. Opportunities for improving energy efficiency in SFRs are widespread; they extend beyond just energy generation and addressing inefficiencies such as improper insulation or outdated appliances. The emissions reductions that come with clean energy sourcing and enhanced energy efficiency can also serve as strong ESG proof points in real estate portfolios for investors and developers.

Taking Efficiency from Rental Communities to the Grid

U.S. reliance on foreign countries (i.e., China) has disrupted the energy supply chain, and significantly impacted the clean energy industry by extending the timelines for residential and commercial clean energy projects designed to lower emissions and support utilities in their efforts to modernize grids. The DPA will strengthen our domestic solar and grid manufacturing industries, and help lower utility costs. Coupled with low- or no-tariff imports of components from international suppliers, we’ll see increased availability and a greater variety of technologies; even small-scale retrofit projects, like those owned by SFRs, will be able to contribute to meaningful change in clean energy generation and smarter energy use.

As the industry, and society at-large, waits to see how the DPA will go into effect, SFR operators must act on this opportunity to lead meaningful change. These executive actions have been introduced at a time of increased consumer demand for clean energy and home efficiency technologies. Heightened awareness of the lasting impact inefficient homes can have on the environment presents the perfect opportunity for property managers to invest time and resources into upgrading the efficiency of their portfolios.

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1) Shift our energy perspective — the worst thing we can possibly do to power our homes is what most of us did yesterday. Reliance on the grid is financially, practically, environmentally, technologically, and geopolitically unsound. Elevation offers a sustainable alternative: the Elevated Home.

2) We shouldn’t just focus on energy production — the cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy we never consume. Reducing energy waste is crucial — and with Elevation it’s easy.

3) The solution to evolving, long-term challenges is always a relationship and not a transaction. Buying a solar system is no more of a complete solution to our home’s energy needs than a pill is the sole answer to our personal health and longevity. Elevation’s energy monitoring and optimization platform supports our home’s long-term relationship with energy.

On a national average, individuals spend close to 10% of their monthly income on utility costs. While rates fluctuate, trends over the last 10 years show that utility rates continue to increase each year. As this continues, power bills will continue to remain one of a family’s biggest expenses.

Additionally, complex electricity rate plans and time-of-use rules are difficult to understand and follow. Here at Elevation, we help homeowners take advantage of technology, home efficiency services, and ongoing monitoring in order to live more comfortably, and for less than they currently pay. With energy efficiency improvements, smart home monitoring, utility rate plans and incentives, and customized solar solutions, families can start to feel these savings almost immediately.

There are several inexpensive things you can do each month to easily cut costs and save energy in your home. Other energy efficiency improvements may cost a little bit more upfront but will save you money in the long run. The cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy you don’t use, so it’s better to fix energy inefficiencies in the home before investing in expensive products. The more efficient your home is, the better added technology and products will work in your favor. That’s where the real savings are.

It all starts with an energy efficiency audit. An energy auditor will come into your home to do real-time testing to see where your doors, walls, windows, and appliances are not efficient. They can pinpoint areas where expensive energy is leaking, perform thermal testing for warm and cold areas, and help give suggestions to remedy these issues in an Energy Efficiency Report. Under certain home insurance policies or warranties, some of these improvements are covered. The recent passing of the IRA provides homeowners the opportunity to take advantage of home energy efficiency improvements with diverse incentives that can help cut costs. The previous $500 tax credit limit has now been increased to $1,200. This credit has been expanded to cover costs of stoves, electric panels, windows, doors, and energy audits. A home energy audit will help you know what can be done to start benefiting from utility savings.

Home energy audits are powerful tools for boosting energy efficiency because they prevent you from wasting precious time — and money — addressing the wrong problems. You might think that incandescent bulbs drain the most electricity in the home, but the worst energy hog could actually be the pool pump cycling too frequently. You can also receive insight into smaller, lesser common issues that you may have never noticed. The fridge in your garage, for example, uses electricity even when it’s empty and many home appliances continue to consume energy even when not in use. An audit will report this. In short, the data gleaned from an audit is invaluable for whole-home energy solutions.

Making the right changes in your home energy use can save you up to 30% on your energy bills, increase your comfort, and help increase the efficiency of your whole-home solutions. Contact us today to schedule your energy audit.

The signing of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) has brought terms like “heat pumps” and “photovoltaics” into the national spotlight and homeowners’ vocabularies. One thing that’s flying under-the-radar: how both clean energy generation and efficient energy usage can come together for homeowners, landlords, and renters to save money and energy.

Benefits For Homeowners: Closing The Gap

The initial upfront costs of energy-efficient appliances and retrofits has long been one of the largest barriers for homeowners and property managers. The spread of rebates and tax breaks offered by the IRA will go a long way toward removing and reducing this barrier. Homeowners and property managers can now save money upfront as they add rooftop solar, install heat pumps, and switch out natural gas-powered dryers for electric, energy-efficient upgrades.

The diversity of incentives is one of the most intriguing parts of the IRA – there’s something in there for everyone.

Homeowners who have previously been on the fence about adding rooftop PV and home battery systems can make the transition with the tailwinds of a sizable tax break: a 30% tax credit that will be extended at a flat rate for 10 years is included in the IRA. This will revolutionize the demographics of Americans who can install solar and storage.

Landlords and real estate portfolio managers will be guided consistently towards smart-money investments in clean energy generation and efficiency. The diversity of incentives offered and the ability to package them together to achieve maximum savings will bring energy savings to Americans who previously have been left out, including renters, marginalized communities, and first-time homeowners.

As companies in the clean technology industry seek to help homeowners make the most of the tax credits and rebates, real-time data and energy usage monitoring tools will be key in identifying areas for immediate energy savings. Home energy audits will allow homeowners and energy services companies to seamlessly work together to create customized plans. As consumers save money from their solar, storage, and efficiency upgrades, they’ll be able to reinvest the savings into future improvements and installations.

Homeowners, real estate investors, and property managers can choose from a menu of rebates and tax credits that come with installing new, energy-efficient appliances, including heat pumps, water heaters, and stoves – with insulation ventilation, and wiring improvements included as well. Consumers can take as many of these rebates as they would like, up to a total of $14,000.

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Benefits For Real Estate Operators: Faster Scalability

Every step taken toward clean energy generation (i.e., solar panel installation) and managing energy usage within a home (i.e., insulation improvements) can be compounded. Generating energy through solar panels, storing energy in residential battery systems, and using this energy to run electric-powered appliances all work together towards increased sustainability for homeowners – financially and environmentally.

The installation of rooftop solar and/or the upgrades included in the Home Rebate program are all only the starting point for a chain reaction. Take, for example, a landlord who owns a set of four Single Family Rental (SFR) homes in a neighborhood. This landlord, as he installs rooftop solar at a discount and switches the appliances within his rentals for energy-efficient options, does so knowing that he has a return-on-investment waiting. Homes that are cheaper to heat, cool, and power and have reduced carbon footprints are extremely attractive for renters. Institutional landlords have the potential to scale these technologies and reach  millions of renters who have not had access. Simply put, there is a great opportunity to make energy use a more interactive and mindful experience for renters.

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Benefits For Clean Energy Providers: Increased Demand

As consumers rush to take advantage of these savings, energy-efficiency and solar companies will be forced to compete and innovate to find ways to meet demand. This same way of innovation and competition took place over a decade ago following the Obama Administration’s Recovery Act of 2009, which brought an estimated 900,000 jobs in the six years that followed. This corporate growth and innovation helped spur some of the companies leading the charge in decarbonizing the energy sector today.

Innovation driven by competition will not be the only industry result of the increased demand. As individual homeowners and real estate portfolio managers seek to install rooftop solar, batteries, upgraded appliances and other energy-efficient improvements, they’ll be stimulating the domestic construction and contracting industries. Electricians, plumbers, and solar installation technicians will be busier than ever. The $70B+ in clean domestic manufacturing investments provided by the IRA will drive the creation of new jobs – an estimated 912,000 new jobs per year for the next 10 years.

Holistic, whole home carbon reduction is the intended goal of the bill’s residential incentives and earmarked funding. There’s no question that homes that generate, store, and use renewable electricity will be a key part of achieving the emissions reduction goals outlined by the federal government. It will be rewarding to watch homeowners, landlords, and renters all share the benefits of this journey.

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When former President Obama signed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act into law in 2008, it provided more than $90 billion in clean energy investments and tax incentives to promote job creation and the deployment of low-carbon technologies. This caused a boom in innovation and investments for renewable generation technologies and projects. As the market diversified, cost reductions and incentive programs made solar installations particularly lucrative for utilities, developers, and consumers. Many of the technologies that Americans use to power their homes found their roots in this time period.

Clean Energy Demand Is Rampant.

Renewable energy remains increasingly popular. It’s accelerating into the lives of everyday Americans, as the residential solar market experienced its fifth consecutive record year in 2021, growing 30% over 2020. The motivation behind this extended growth is clear – it’s about the green, in more ways than one. A survey shows that 58% of people who have installed solar panels to their home list that “solar panels are clean and don’t contribute to climate change” as a motivation for doing so. Even more – 59% list saving money on their electricity bills as a motivation.

The intersection of environment and economics is powerful, and not just for homeowners. New technologies that increase energy efficiency can be adopted at-scale, allowing everyone to experience the benefits, from everyday homeowners, to institutional landlords and real estate developers, to Americans that rent single family homes.

Efficiency Is Key.

One of the largest areas where clean energy technologies can make a quick impact to lower costs and emissions is home energy efficiency. Home energy usage makes up the largest portion of the average American’s carbon footprint. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the average household in 2019 used energy that released an estimated 17,302 lbs. of carbon dioxide. This means that, on an annual basis, the average home is responsible for 70% more emissions than the average passenger vehicle.

So, what innovative tools are being used in energy efficiency, and where can they take us?

Smart technologies, like smart thermostats and connected apps, are leading the way. More and more homeowners, landlords, and renters are opting to replace their outdated appliances and light fixtures with smart, energy-efficient updates. As price drops in technology and legislative tailwinds like the recently-signed Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act continue to converge, homes will become more efficient. In 2021, the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasted that the stock of connected appliances, devices, and sensors would overtake the number of people on the planet.

Visibility And Connectivity Through Tech.

While increases in both the capabilities and the availability of energy-efficient appliances and technologies are exciting, they’re not enough on their own. To maximize the impact of these tools, you need to understand where your home’s energy is being used, and why. Energy monitoring tools allow homeowners, institutional landlords, and residents the ability to view, understand, and optimize their energy usage.

As the old adage states: you can’t manage what you can’t measure.

This rings true in the case of energy efficiency. An energy-efficient appliance purchase and installation will make its largest impacts – environmentally and economically – when targeted with real-time data that’s validated and actionable. Technologies that can deliver this valuable insight directly to the phones of residents and the computers of landlords will prove valuable going forward.

Real-time energy monitoring and analysis platforms are untapping opportunities for immediate impacts, and homeowners and property managers should adapt and use these technologies with the same urgency. The time to act is now. With favorable policies, increased awareness and demand for ESG in real estate portfolios, and dropping technology and electricity prices, energy-efficient homes are a sound investment. The companies that offer technology with years of aggregated data in this space are ready for their time to shine.

The focus on energy efficiency and the technology that will help us get there, faster and easier, carries a unique win-win-win opportunity: renters and homeowners can save money on their electricity bills and reduce their carbon footprints, institutional landlords can make ESG gains in their residential portfolios, and the planet and air that we all share will benefit from reduced emissions.

The future is green, in more ways than one.

A considerable decarbonization opportunity exists in the energy consumed by homes. Residential energy consumption accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. energy-related greenhouse gas emissions. That’s more emissions than Germany puts out, and approximately the same as Brazil.

Single-family rental homes (SFRs) have recently experienced substantial growth within the U.S. rental inventory. Their share of the market is currently valued at approximately $4.4 trillion. With the SFR market projected to further expand and become 12 percent of all new homes built over the next decade, there is a huge opportunity to increase sustainability efforts.

By following a process that involves pairing focused energy-efficiency upgrades and behavior changes with data driven by technology, major carbon reductions can be achieved. Rental operators and institutional landlords will see multi-faceted impacts — they’ll maximize savings and cut extra costs while working towards a more sustainable future.

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Addressing Inefficiencies by Implementing Sustainable Solutions

Inefficiencies across SFR homes are rampant, from improper insulation to outdated appliances. In fact, American renters use nearly one-third more energy per square foot than homeowners do, especially when utility costs are fixed and bundled with rent. To address these opportunities for energy and cost savings, SFR operators must begin by conducting energy audits across their rental portfolios. These audits can pinpoint a rental property’s energy drainers and provide a tangible starting place for cutting energy usage at scale. An energy audit provides actionable data, and when weighed against the data from other rental portfolios it provides the necessary insight to define benchmarks and identify areas of improvement or success in energy efficiency.

Properly reducing emissions in SFRs comes largely through changing behavior, in the forms of both human and appliance behavior.  Improving appliance behavior includes making informed maintenance decisions, taking advantage of appliance-technology capabilities, and weighing the benefits of replacing old appliances with newer, often more energy-efficient options. None of this is possible or effective without information from regular energy audits and ongoing energy monitoring benchmarked against large data sets in the SFR industry.

After all, you can’t manage what you can’t measure.

Changes in human behavior are also aided by the same process. Rental operators and institutional landlords can make informed decisions on energy-efficiency, from smaller items such as window and door insulation, to larger system upgrades such as solar panels and residential batteries. Renters and SFR occupants can also use their desire to reduce emissions and save money to shape behavior changes. This can take many forms, including understanding and implementing best practices around heating and cooling as well as taking advantage of natural light during the day.

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Holistic Energy-Efficiency is an Investment for All

Ultimately, landlords and renters are in it together. As they work together towards energy-efficiency in rentals, they’ll share the benefits that will follow. Air quality will improve. Money will be saved. Carbon footprints, both individual and institutional, will be reduced. They’ll make their homes stand out through investing in energy-efficiency and renters will be proud to live there.

Energy efficiency is no different when it comes to our homes. When your house can maximize its energy output, you eliminate energy waste, help combat climate change, and save money on your monthly utility bills.

Ready to make your home more efficient? Here’s our quick-fix guide.

Add insulation to the attic.

If the attic isn’t well insulated, you could be losing warmth during the winter and cool air in the summer. A little extra padding to keep the temperature where it’s supposed to be and reduces the strain on your HVAC unit.

Seal doors and windows.

Eliminate drafts around openings with weather stripping or a layer or two of caulk.

Install low-flow showerheads.

These utilize the minimum amount of water necessary, and can reduce water usage by up to 60%.

Hang window treatments.

In the heat of summer, blackout drapes can help your HVAC keep the house cool without overworking itself.

Repair leaky faucets.

It’s a no-brainer—when faucets are leaking, they’re wasting water. Take five minutes to fix them.

Turn off lights.

When you leave a room, get in the habit of switching off lights. Or opt for smart switches and sensors, which automatically turn off lights in unoccupied rooms.

Replace windows.

Swap single-pane windows for dual-pane. If this doesn’t suit your budget, add a solar tint or window film to reduce heat from the sun entering your home.

Enjoy natural light.

Let the daylight illuminate around-the-house tasks to avoid expending unneeded energy on lamps and overhead lighting.

Upgrade your toilet.

Energy efficient toilets use water velocity instead of water volume to reduce waste. This translates to nearly 13,000 gallons of water conserved annually.

Change light bulbs.

As your older incandescent bulbs burn out, switch them out with energy-efficient LED bulbs. Don’t forget to change bulbs in lesser-used rooms, such as the garage, closets, and pantries.

Set a timer.

Outdoor lights only need to operate from dusk to dawn. Ensure zero energy waste by scheduling their automation to a timer.

Invest in a smart home monitor.

Take the guesswork out of where your home’s inefficiencies are and allow a smart home monitor, such as Curb [link to internal article “How The Curb Energy Monitor Works”], track this information and download the data to you in real-time.

Adjust laundry habits.

Wash and dry clothes during off-peak hours, make sure to do full loads, wash items in cold water, and skip the dryer to air-dry instead.

Do dishes smarter.

Similar rules apply to dishwashing as they do to washing clothes: run the dishwasher at night, load it to full capacity, and opt for air-drying once the dishes are clean.

Keep the oven door closed.

For every time you open the oven door to check on what’s cooking, the temperature drops by as much as 25 degrees. Use the little window to peek at food.

Replace air filters.

Your HVAC doesn’t have to work as hard, or as long, if the filters are cleaned regularly. Make a point to replace your air filters every 2-3 months. If you have pets or live in a place that’s dusty, replace them more frequently.

Use ceiling fans.

Ceiling fans circulate air, which improves the efficiency of your HVAC system so much that you can set the thermostat up to 4 degrees cooler while maintaining the same comfort level.

Check the fridge temperature.

The best temperature for your refrigerator for optimal cooling: the manufacturer’s recommended setting. You can also reduce airflow by avoiding overfilling the fridge.

Dress appropriately.

Wear sweaters and socks and use blankets and throws in cooler months; come summer, dress yourself in lighter, looser clothing.

Use a programmable thermostat.

Upgrade to a smart thermostat, which not only allows you to schedule heating and cooling, it learns your behaviors and adjusts to your lifestyle.

Fight vampire power.

Even when devices aren’t in use, if they’re plugged in, it’s likely they’re draining power. Unplug all gadgets when you don’t need them.

Is Your Home  Energy Efficient?

Find out today. Start with our Home Energy Score and see what you can do to improve.

Heating and cooling unit.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 47%

Of all the appliances, devices and other energy-grid-connected items in your home, the HVAC system requires the most energy by far, accounting for nearly half of the usage. And heating a house takes significantly more energy (about 32%) than cooling does (about 12%).

Water heater.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 14%

A typical water heater consumes up to 13.5 kWh per day, and 405 kWh per month. This places it second on our list of appliances that consume the most energy, which makes sense given that most of us need year-round hot water for everything from showers to washing dishes.

Washer and dryer.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 3-9%

These two appliances’ energy usage can vary greatly depending on how you launder. For example, washing clothes in cold water, doing full loads, cleaning the dryer’s lint tray and even air-drying whenever possible all greatly reduce the amount of energy consumed.

Lighting.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 3-9%

Illuminating your home is another energy source whose consumption can be influenced by a variety of factors: types of bulbs (incandescent vs. LED), amount of time lights are on, use of timers or motion sensors, reliance on natural light instead of artificial. To offer perspective, a 100-watt incandescent bulb glowing for two hours a day uses 0.2 kWh per day, and 6 kWh per month. Multiply that times the number of bulbs in your home and the energy use adds up.

Refrigerator.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 4%

If you don’t have a smart fridge or a newer, more energy-efficient model, your unit is likely closer to using 5-6% of a home’s total energy consumption. An average fridge requires about 162 kWh of energy per month.

Electric oven and stove.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 4%

While electric ovens and stoves aren’t the biggest energy consumers, they can sometimes cause a ripple effect with other appliances. For example, when in use — especially on a hot day — an oven can boost the temperature inside your home and increase the load on your AC unit.

Media equipment.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 3%

Televisions, DVD players, cable boxes, video game consoles — these comprise your media devices and together they use close to 60 kWh of electricity per month, even when they’re in standby mode.

Dishwasher.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 2%

As with washing clothes, there are easy ways to cut back on the amount of energy your dishwasher uses: wash full loads, pre-rinse dirty dishes, air-dry as often as possible.

Computer.

Percentage of home’s energy use: 1%

Contrary to what you might think, your computer is the least offender when it comes to energy consumption even though you probably use it all the time. To decrease its energy usage even more, shut it off completely when you’re finished for the day.

What’s Your Home’s Energy Score?

Understanding your home’s energy efficiency is a great way to gain energy independence. Get started by calculating your home’s energy score and learn what you can do to improve.

Swapping out light bulbs for LEDs, purchasing new appliances, or installing dual-pane windows are all important steps toward reducing your home’s energy consumption. However, if you’re making those changes blindly, without data indicating where energy inefficiencies exist, you’re likely not making as big of an impact as you think. An energy audit can pinpoint exactly where to improve your home’s efficiency, and how. Here, we break down why a home energy audit is key to optimum energy efficiency.

How a home energy audit works.

An energy audit is an assessment that examines a house’s energy consumption and identifies measures to improve efficiency. An auditor will inspect your home’s exterior and interior, utilizing advanced technology to establish problem areas. The process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to four hours, depending on your home’s size. Typically, an audit aims to:

• Measure air leakage. An auditor will assess windows, walls, eaves, even holes where electrical lines run, to see if they are causing leaks in or out of the home.
• Check insulation levels. An auditor will inspect insulation to ensure it was correctly installed and applied evenly between walls.
• Identify areas that need to be sealed. An auditor will conduct a blower door test, during which all windows and doors are closed and a blower door machine depressurizes the house. Then an infrared camera is used to see where cold air is leaking into the home.

The audit sources additional information from:

• Thermographic scans
• Review of your past utility bills
• Analysis of building energy consumption data

What a home energy audit can reveal.

Home energy audits are powerful tools for boosting energy efficiency because they prevent you from wasting precious time — and money — addressing the wrong problems. You might think that incandescent bulbs drain the most electricity in the home, but the worst energy hog could actually be the pool pump cycling too frequently. A home energy audit can discover this. It can also offer insight into smaller, lesser common issues that you may have never noticed. The fridge in your garage, for example, uses electricity even when it’s empty and many home appliances continue to consume energy even when not in use. An audit will report this. In short, the data gleaned from an audit is invaluable for strategizing whole-home energy solutions.

Why a home energy audit saves money.

An audit offers a complete and accurate look at how every aspect of how your home uses energy, arming you with essential information to make the right efficiency tweaks. Doing so can ultimately save you up to 30% on your energy bills — this adds up to hundreds of dollars a year. Additionally, if you plan to sell your home, an energy audit can be an asset to increasing your home value. Energy-efficient houses are some of the most sought-after living spaces on the market. Why? A home’s new owners will want to save just as much on energy bills as you do.

When to do a home energy audit.

If you think you may be paying too much on your energy bills, then the best time to schedule an audit is now. However, it’s wise to also consider the seasonality of the region where you live. Electricity bills for homeowners in the Southwest skyrocket during the hot summer months, while those in colder climates see higher costs during the winter. Schedule an audit before extreme temperatures — cold or hot — to give you time to make energy efficiency improvements ahead of the season.

Where to get a home energy audit.

Some local utility companies and government agencies may offer home energy audits. There’s also Curb Energy Monitoring. Curb provides a simple and convenient way to monitor and manage all of your home’s energy consumption. The system gives you real-time data on your home’s energy production and consumption down to each major appliance and zone (or room) in the house. With Curb, you can:

• Track your home’s energy usage in real time
• See real-time energy use for major appliances, rooms, and areas
• Find out which appliances or areas of the home are costing you money
• Identify and eliminate wasted energy
• Have solar? Curb optimizes your investment with real-time dollar amounts based on your utility plan.

Schedule Your Home Energy Audit Today

Call Elevation to schedule your home energy audit and see how Elevation can help you.

Not all smart thermostats are created equal though, and not every one is the right fit for your lifestyle. See our list below of the top eco-friendly thermostats.

Nest Learning Thermostat

• Why we love it: Learns your habits and heating and cooling preferences to maximize efficiency by adjusting the temperature when you arrive home; no pre-programming necessary
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Logitech, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings, WeMo, Wink, Xfinity
• Bonus perk: Beautiful design available in seven finishes, from brass and copper to classic white
• Price: $250

Buy Now

Nest Thermostat

• Why we love it: Affordable, stylish, and automatically turns itself down when you leave, so you’re not wasting energy on an empty house
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings
• Bonus perk: Easy to install
• Price: $130

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Honeywell Home T9 Smart Thermostat

• Why we love it: Utilizes remote sensors to determine where you are in your home, and thus, which rooms need temperatures adjusted for comfort and efficiency; geofencing technology that senses where you’re nearing home
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, IFTTT
• Bonus perk: Large, easy-to-read display
• Price: $200

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Ecobee SmartThermostat with Voice Control

• Why we love it: Excellent remote sensors (up to 32) that tweak temperature settings in every room; it doesn’t learn like Nest, but it works with so many systems that it ends up being easier to merge with your existing technology; hands-free calling and intercom
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech, Wink, IFTTT
• Bonus perk: Voice commands let you play music via Spotify, or get news and weather updates
• Price: $250

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Ecobee3 Lite

• Why we love it: An Ecobee-like experience (intuitive interface, remote sensors available) at a fraction of the price
• Compatible with: Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Logitech, Wink, IFTTT
• Bonus perk: Automatically turns off AC and then updates you when a window or door is open for longer than five minutes
• Price: $170

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Mysa Smart Thermostat

• Why we love it: Perfect for homes without central HVAC systems, i.e., baseboard heaters, radiant heating, and fan-forced convectors; plus in-app energy charting and geofencing
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings
• Bonus perk: Easy to install, sleek design
• Price: $140

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Wyze Thermostat

• Why we love it: Very inexpensive; supports many types of HVAC systems
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home
• Bonus perk: The app recommends actionable insights based on your energy usage
• Price: $80

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Sensibo Air

• Why we love it: Uses seven-day scheduling, geofencing, and filter cleaning alerts to save as much energy as possible; secondary sensor measures humidity to control the level of moisture in your home, not just temperature
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Home
• Bonus perk: Small size means you can place it anywhere, such as a table or shelf
• Price: $115

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Sensibo Sky

• Why we love it: Ideal smart thermostat option for homes with in-wall or in-window AC units; affordable price
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, IFTTT
• Bonus perk: Geofencing to automatically turn on the AC as you get closer to home
• Price: $8

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Cielo Breez Plus

• Why we love it: Great for portable AC units, in-window units, and mini splits; simplicity of use; syncs quickly
• Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Samsung SmartThings, Siri Shortcuts
• Bonus perk: Dimmable display, geofencing capability
• Price: $109

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Expert Advice

With so many smart thermostats on the market today, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. At Elevation, we’re here to help. Get your Home Energy Score and see how you can improve your home’s energy efficiency.