Earth Day: The Importance of Energy Efficiency
Today, we celebrate Earth Day, a time when we bring global awareness to the importance of protecting our planet. Since its inception over 30 years ago, individuals, companies and governments have banded together to support various initiatives, from planting trees at local parks to starting large-scale campaigns to promote sustainable living.
But there’s more we can do.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 39 percent (or about 38 quadrillion Btu) of total U.S. energy consumption is consumed by the residential and commercial building sectors.1 Energy efficiency has a substantial impact on the environment through direct and indirect CO2 emissions. Building designs are continually evolving and becoming more energy efficient. In fact, the Efficient World Scenario highlights the potential for global building energy demand to decline between now and 2040, despite the total building floor area growing by a further 60 percent. On average, buildings in 2040 could be nearly 40 percent more energy efficient than today.2
Using the right building materials for your home can help the U.S. reach these goals.
Lower Energy Usage with Insulated Buildings
Consumers and building owners are now demanding more energy efficient buildings, and there’s no sign of this slowing down. Energy efficient buildings are some of the most effective solutions to global issues like addressing climate change, driving economic growth and creating prospering communities.
There are easy ways to reduce your energy comsumption, which can help contribute to large scale energy savings. Setting goals to reduce your energy consumption is a simple, manageable way to start. Little things, like turning off the lights when you leave a room and unplugging appliances when you’re not using them are smart habits in the short term. If you’re considering a renovation or building a new home, you can make the structure more efficient by “sealing the building envelope” and closing air leaks with spray polyurethane foam (SPF).
The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 56 percent of the energy used in homes goes towards heating and cooling.3 Further, air leaks waste up to 40 percent of the energy used to heat and cool single-family homes.4 SPF insulation is a powerful insulator and air barrier. It is applied on-site and is uniquely capable of efficiently sealing holes and cracks throughout the home because it expands as it is applied. This strong insulator and sealant helps keep cooled or heated air from escaping the building and minimizes energy consumption throughout the year.
Denis Hayes, one of the first organizers of Earth Day, describes it as “the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year.” It’s a time where we can recognize and improve upon large and small-scale environmental issues. This celebrated day started as a grassroots movement for a reason. It takes the small efforts of everyday people to make a big change, and the investment in SPF insulation can move us a small step closer to global goals.