Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Energy Efficiency and Conservation
Energy efficiency is achieved by using less energy to have the same level of energy service. Some examples are:
- Insulating a building to use less energy for heating to achieve the same temperature
- Installing fluorescent lights instead of incandescent lights to have the same level of illumination
Energy conservation is the practice of decreasing the quantity of energy used. It may be achieved through efficient energy use or by reduced consumption of energy services. Energy conservation reduces the energy consumption and energy demand per capita.
More information can be found at US DOE site and FDACS Energy Site.
The MyFloridaGreenBuilding.info Web site offers energy-efficiency tips for new construction and existing homes, information on local green building programs, green rating systems, rebates and incentives, calculators, and case studies on certified green buildings in Florida.
Program for Resource Efficient Communities (PREC) at the University of Florida is involved in applied building sciences research, such as the construction of houses built to very high energy-efficient standards. The projects span the state and bring sustainability from the theoretical to the practical and profitable. …More
How is a Building’s Energy Efficiency Determined?
In Florida, a building’s energy efficiency can only be determined using Florida’s Building Energy Efficiency Rating System. Because of the Florida Building Energy Efficiency Ratings Act, this is a matter of law in Florida. …More
My Florida Home Energy Website Gives Floridians Tips to Make Their Homes Energy Efficient
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched an interactive website at www.myfloridahomeenergy.com that will walk homeowners through steps to conserve energy in their homes.
The “My Florida Home Energy” tool was built to provide Florida homeowners with a user-friendly application to analyze their current energy use and identify energy-efficient products and services that will potentially reduce their energy use, along with their utility bills. This tool will help Floridians across the state by evaluating their energy use and giving them a variety of options to save energy in their homes.
The interactive application takes information provided by the homeowner as well as publicly accessible data to determine potential energy-efficient products, improvements or modifications that may be beneficial to consumers in their specific regions. The results are then ranked by cost and anticipated energy savings. The tool was developed through a contract with the University of Florida as required by legislation passed in 2012.
The tool also identifies resources to help the homeowner put recommendations into action, including:
- Home energy-efficient products, improvements or modifications.
- On-site, third-party home energy audits (free utility company audits and fee-based professional audits).
- Best practices for hiring licensed contractors in their area.
- Applicable local, state and federal financial incentives related to the upgrades recommended for their home.
- Project financing options that may impact the feasibility and monetary payback for recommended upgrades.
