NEW NATIONWIDE POLL: 9 in 10 U.S. Homeowners Concerned About Home Energy Efficiency

Yet Few Believe Their Homes Are Very Energy Efficient

OCEANSIDE, Calif., Sept. 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Home energy efficiency is valued by the vast majority of American homeowners, with 89 percent of national survey respondents indicating that making their home more energy efficient is important to them personally.

Key findings from the September 2010 national survey include:

• Less than one in three homeowners believe their homes are "very" energy efficient
• While the majority reported knowing "a lot" about how to make their homes energy efficient, they mistakenly identified  "older windows" as the top energy-loss culprit
• 90% said it is important to have a professional energy auditor who is "certified by an independent national organization"

"These findings are a call to action to the industry to help consumers tap into the true value of an independent energy audit," said Steve Baden, executive director, RESNET. "While the benefits of window replacement are obvious, it is often a less visible and less expensive repair – for example, sealing cracks around air conditioning and heating ducts – that can significantly improve a home's energy efficiency and cut homeowners' utility bills."

D.C.-based Clarus Research Group, a Qorvis company, conducted a market survey of 800 U.S. homeowners(1) on behalf of RESNET, an industry leader in the energy efficiency marketplace. The sample was defined as adults over 21 years of age who currently own a home or plan to purchase one within the next year. The survey was conducted by Ron Faucheux, Ph.D., president of Clarus and a nationally recognized research and polling expert.

Key among other survey findings:

• 86% of homeowners would trust an energy audit performed by someone who was "certified by an independent national organization" over someone who was not
• 80% of those surveyed said that if they were in the market to buy a home, an energy audit conducted by an "unbiased professional" would be important to them

About RESNET

RESNET is a national nonprofit organization that sets the standards for the inspection and testing of the energy performance of homes. RESNET saw 119,000 homes rated last year, and has had over 1,000,000 rated since its inception. RESNET is recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Energy Star Homes, the U.S. Department of Energy for the National Builder's Challenge, and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for the federal tax credit for builders building energy-efficient homes. For more information, please visit www.resnet.us

(1) Poll conducted Sept. 1–4, 2010 via live telephone interviewing of a nationwide, scientifically-selected random sample. Margin of error: +/-3.46%.

SOURCE RESNET