The technology to enhance home energy efficiency exists today but there is a lack of awareness of the most impactful ways to deploy it.
A new report from Schneider Electric highlights a significant gap between homeowners' awareness of energy efficiency and their actions. The global energy management and automation company found people are too focused on low impact actions such as switching off lights, while leaving energy intensive AC running.
Sweating the small stuff: Schneider Electric surveyed 13,000 participants from 11 countries, and found that while 82% of respondents consider energy efficiency important, only 44% regularly adjust their ambient temperatures—a high-impact action for reducing energy consumption. Instead, 58% focus on turning off lights, which accounts for merely about 5% of electricity bills.
The report also indicates an overemphasis on smart lighting technology. While 24% of respondents have adopted smart lighting solutions, only 21% use smart thermostats, despite evidence suggesting that smart thermostats can reduce energy bills by up to 30% annually.
Additionally, 52% of consumers perceive smart home technology as too expensive, even though connected homes can achieve energy savings of up to 22%.
Good intentions: Summing up the findings, Schneider Electric's Executive Vice President of Home & Distribution, Michael Lotfy Gierges, said consumers wanted to reduce their energy bill, increase their energy reliability and increase energy efficiency in their homes.
“Yet, there exists a gap between intention and action. The technology to enhance home energy efficiency exists today but there is a lack of awareness of the most impactful ways to deploy it.”
Strategies for change: The report's recommendations for increasing awareness included:
