Non-envelope improvements — electrification, burner efficiency, behavior changes — account for the majority of the observed decline in residential fossil energy use intensity before 2009.
Carbon and Climate
building energy, divestment, emissions data, personal footprint, preparing for climate change, reducing emissions in ma, science and goals
Behavior changes
An approximately 8 degree reduction in thermostat settings since the 1970s saves approximately 26% off our home space heating consumption.
Appliance efficiency improvements
Fossil appliance efficiency improvements were an important contributor to the 58% drop in residential fossil energy use intensity in Massachusetts from 1972 through 2009.
Shift to electric appliances
The modest shift to electric heating and other appliances from 1972 to 2009 accounted for only approximately 1 kbtu/sqft/year reduction in fossil EUI in 2009 — a relatively small contribution to the overall drop in fossil EUI of 78 kbtu/sqft/year from 1972 to 2009.
Energy Savings before Mass Save
Why did fossil energy use decline so dramatically even before the Green Communities Act of 2008 launched intensive energy efficiency efforts .
Cutting energy consumption in the last energy crisis
People heating with oil in Massachusetts in 1978 to 1981 faced dramatic price increases. Many apparently sacrificed home comfort to control their heating bills.