Secondly, substantial savings can be made through the use of efficient technologies; for example, condensing boilers should be installed instead of standard or low-temperature boilers and combined wherever possible with renewable energy systems such as solar panels. You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating and cooling bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours. The German Government also plans to introduce energy certificates for the building stock, in order to provide information on buildings' energy performance, such as the level and quality of thermal insulation. Chapters address the ENERGY STAR buildings five-stage approach, leading you through the entire planning, financing, and implementation process. Energy efficient buildings (new constructions or renovated existing buildings) can be defined as buildings that are designed to provide a significant reduction of the energy need for heating and cooling, independently of the energy and of the equipments that will be chosen to heat or cool the building. by automatically reducing heating temperature at night. F. Tune-up or upgrade heating and cooling systems.

Saving Energy with Climate Protection: co2online, Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control. Firstly, heat loss through the shell of the building can be reduced by insulating the exterior walls, installing double glazing, insulating the roof and the ceiling of the basement, and lagging heating and hot water pipes in unheated rooms. There are two main methods: better insulation, and more efficient technology. Chapter 8:  Air Distribution Systems  Typically, 43% of a home utility bill goes to heating and cooling. Warm air leaking into your home during the summer and out of your home during the winter can waste a lot of your energy dollars. D. Install and set programmable thermostats that save energy by automatically regulating your home or building's temperature when you are home, asleep, or away. Chapter 7:  Supplemental Load Reduction  Hydraulic compensation should be conducted between the various sections of the heating system in order to ensure that heat is distributed evenly throughout the building; this can be achieved through the use of adjustable thermostat valves.

And what is the German Government doing to boost energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption? Tenants can also find out about their residential building's energy consumption. Amount spent on home improvements, as well as energy savings accrued by those upgrades, are estimates based on third-party calculation models and other technical references from reputable sources, including US DOE, US EPA, and the California Public Utilities Commission. Signs that hydraulic compensation may be required include "knocking" noises in the system and radiators failing to heat properly. How can I carry out an energy efficiency health check? Energy requirement certificates have already been introduced for new builds and full renovations in accordance with the Energy Saving Regulation of February 2002. Noise may also result if circulating pumps are set too high. What are the benefits – for the environment and our own pockets? For example, an energy-efficient 12-watt LED bulb uses 75-80% less energy than a 60-watt traditional bulb … But what does energy efficiency actually mean? By March 2006, around 342,000 energy upgrades for homes had received support under the programme, which is also stimulating the labour market: every €1 billion invested in the building stock safeguards or creates around 25,000 jobs. This taps into an important energy source, as space heating accounts for three-quarters of domestic energy consumption and is often energy-inefficient. The potential energy savings from reducing drafts in a home may range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is generally much more comfortable afterward. Advisory and support services are a good place to start. E. Seal ducts and make sure they are straight and properly connected. Must we accept drastic limitations in order to consume less energy?
Download the entire manual, below, or select a specific chapter: Chapter 1:  Introduction 
Homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States.

Heating and cooling your home uses more energy than any other system in your home. From here you can jump directly to the following areas: Electricity, gas and oil are more expensive than ever, so intelligent energy management has never been as worthwhile as it is today. I. Chapter 13:  Retail Stores, Chapter 11:  Supermarkets and Grocery Stores. Chapter 12:  Hotels and Motels Energy saving has never been more worthwhile. Of the $2,000 the average American spends paying for energy annually, $200 to $400 could be going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems. Homeowners who install modern pump technology recoup their investment in less than two years on average due to the electricity costs saved. Chapter 9:  Heating and Cooling Upgrades, Chapter 10:  K–12 Schools An average household dedicates 11% of its energy budget to lighting. There are many – often very cheap and simple – ways of improving energy efficiency and saving energy, thereby greatly easing the burden on the environment and our own pockets. Install energy efficient lighting by choosing ENERGY STAR qualified light bulbs and lighting fixtures for the most used fixtures or light bulbs in your home or building. J. Install an energy-efficient hot water heater, Upgrade household appliances and electronics, DIY Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR, ENERGY STAR Air Source Heat Pump Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Ceiling Fan Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Central Air Conditioner Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Clothes Washer Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Dehumidifier Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Dishwasher Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Light Bulb (CFL) Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Light Fixture Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Office Equipment Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Retirement Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Refrigerator Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Room Air Cleaner and Purifier Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Room Air Conditioner Savings Calculator, ENERGY STAR Water Cooler Savings Calculator. What else is the German Government doing to boost energy efficiency? Many local authorities carry out municipal heating surveys which collate and present data on buildings' heating energy and heating costs, thus creating a basis for sound and objective comparisons. For example, the Federal Environment Ministry offers a free interactive service on its climate protection campaign web pages, with advice on upgrades and improvements that can boost energy efficiency at home. Add insulation to the attic, crawl space or basement, and exterior walls in conjunction with air sealing to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter. C. Install more energy efficient windows, doors, and skylights by looking for ENERGY STAR products and install storm windows and doors to save energy and improve the comfort of your home or building. Many local authorities carry out municipal heating surveys which collate and present data on buildings' heating energy and heating costs, thus creating a basis for sound and objective comparisons. An energy evaluation will identify what specific measures you can take to make your building more energy efficient. A modern condensing boiler alone can reduce energy consumption by as much as 30 percent compared with a standard boiler. Don't cover radiators or block them with furniture, and don't allow curtains or washing to drape over them, in order to allow the heat to circulate freely – this can account for up to 20 percent of heat consumption. Homes and commercial buildings consume 40% of the energy used in the United States. Download the entire manual, below, or … You can lose up to 60% of your heated air before it reaches the register if your ducts are not insulated and they travel through unheated spaces such as an attic or crawlspace. The situation on the energy markets is escalating and energy prices are soaring. G. Install an energy-efficient hot water heater, such as an energy-efficient tank water heater or an on-demand tankless water heater. These infrared photos clearly show in color where energy losses are occurring. Turning your thermostat down by 1ºC cuts energy costs by 6 percent. *Forecasts represent best estimates of growth based on historical HERO Program data. Of the $2,000 the average American spends paying for energy annually, $200 to $400 could be going to waste from drafts, air leaks around openings, and outdated heating and cooling systems. And through its "Energy-Saving at Home" programme, the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) is subsidising the provision of professional individual energy advice for homeowners. By combining proper equipment maintenance and upgrades with appropriate insulation, air sealing, and thermostat settings, you can cut your energy use for heating and cooling from 20% to 50%. Chapter 4:  Financing, Chapter 5:  Retrocommissioning  It is similar to the energy label for household appliances.

The German Government has substantially increased the CO2 Building Rehabilitation Programme from the previous level of €360 million to €1.4 billion annually – quadrupling the programme's previous budgets. B. Fitting a central heating control on the boiler saves energy too, e.g. Many pumps are oversized and run constantly – and unnecessarily – in summer as well as in winter. To learn more and find out how to perform some of these improvements yourself, visit DOE's Energy Savers website. Source: 2011 Buildings Energy Data Book, Section 2.0. An energy professional can use an infrared camera to pinpoint where air leaks and drafts are occurring in your home or building. -Improvements in energy efficiency could save at least a third of the energy used in the world and up to 43% of the energy used in the United States.-We have a variety of technologies for sharply increasing the energy efficiency of industrial operations, motor vehicles, appliances, and buildings. At its most basic, energy efficiency refers to a method of reducing energy consumption by using less energy to attain the same amount of useful output. A Building Energy Rating (BER) certificate indicates your homes energy performance.