The average family spends $1,900 a year on energy bills, much of which goes to heating and cooling. With summer on the way and facing high energy costs, Americans are looking for ways to cool their homes, stay comfortable, and save money. When you reduce the amount of energy used in your home, you save money on energy bills, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions generated by burning fossil fuels to make that electricity. That also reduces the risks of global warming and protects our environment for future generations.

Explore the ENERGY STAR @ home Interactive Tool and find energy-efficient home improvement ideas and advice to help cool your world! EPA has designed this tool to bring you the best information on how you can save energy and protect the environment. We offer advice on home sealing, what products to buy and everyday energy-saving tips. You can turn to ENERGY STAR for the guidance you need to improve your home's efficiency and save money on your energy bills.

It is possible to upgrade an existing home to be certified ENERGY STAR. A diagnostic test is necessary to determine the how efficiently the home is performing. This is done by a home energy (HERS) rater; please see the NC Home Energy Raters section for more information on HERS raters and where to locate them in your area. The home's diagnostic test will establish where improvements are needed. Unfortunately, in many older homes, the improvements necessary may not be cost effective. After the improvements are made the home can be reevaluated to find out the final HERS score and complete the ENERGY STAR certification.

Upgrading your existing home may include but is not limited to evaluation of the home's: