9 signs your home is wasting energy.

1. Your single-pane windows are covered in condensation.

If you wake up to condensation dripping down your windows when it’s cold outside, you can be sure they’re not retaining heat properly. Condensation forms when the warm, moist indoor air meets a cold surface, like a single-pane window. Not only is this a sign of heat loss, but the cumulative moisture can rot wooden frames and cause mold growth, which is a health hazard.

The solution? Upgrading to double-pane windows can help keep heat from escaping during the colder months and entering during the hotter months. 

The Efficient Windows Collaborative suggests that replacing inefficient windows with energy-efficient windows can lower heating costs by at least 15%. While this is a significant investment, these windows increase energy efficiency as well as your home's comfort and value.

2. There are bare spots on your snow-covered roof.

When snow is blanketing the neighborhood rooftops, a bare patch of roof could be a sign of trouble. It means that enough heat is escaping to the attic to melt the snow above, wasting energy and money.

But wait, there’s more.

Melting snow on the roof can form an ice dam — water that drips down to the edge of the roof and re-freezes, preventing further ice melt from draining as it should. This can cause roof and wall damage, as well as mold and mildew.

These costly issues can be prevented if you take the time to winterize your home and seal up gaps, cracks, and holes.

3. You have high energy bills that defy logic. 

One of the most straightforward signs of energy waste is an unexplained spike in your energy bills or consistent, inexplicably high energy bills. If your bills are soaring, but you’re sure your energy usage is not, it's time to investigate the potential culprits. The most common causes of discrepancies between energy use and energy bills are inefficient appliances, inadequate insulation, and air leaks. 

According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average American household spends just over $1,600 on electricity bills annually. More than half of that energy is used for heating and cooling. If your expenses consistently exceed this average, chances are you’re losing money to leaks in your home's thermal envelope, outdated, energy-inefficient appliances, or both.

So, what are your options? You can hire a professional near you to perform an energy audit of your home. Or, you can do a DIY assessment to figure out where your energy is being wasted. 

4. You notice temperature variances between rooms. 

Do certain corners of your home feel chillier than they should, even when the heating is going full-blast? It is the spooky season, but drafts and inconsistent temperatures aren’t signs of a ghost; they are glaring indicators of energy loss.

Poorly sealed windows and doors and inadequate insulation can cause heated air to escape while cold air comes in, requiring your heating system to work harder. Shoring up these gaps restores a home’s thermal envelope, which saves money and makes the indoor environment more comfortable.

Adequately sealing and insulating your dwelling can lead to energy savings, as air leaks around the home are a significant source of wasted energy. The Department of Energy found that reducing drafts can lead to energy savings of between 5% and 30%.

5. Your home's lighting is outdated and inefficient. 

If your home is still using traditional incandescent bulbs or inefficient lighting fixtures, chances are you’re using more energy than necessary.

Shifting to energy-efficient LED bulbs can make a massive difference in long-term energy consumption. They cost more upfront, but according to ENERGY STAR, they consume as much as 90% less energy and last at least 15 times longer than incandescents.

This seemingly minor transition can exert a significant influence on your overall energy footprint. To find out how much you can save, use the ENERGY STAR calculator.

6. You keep everything plugged in 24/7.

Most of us are harboring vampires in our homes — electronic devices that continue to draw power when they’re plugged in, even if they're turned off or not in use. This phenomenon is known as phantom energy consumption or standby power.

Everyday gadgets such as chargers, televisions, and computers are part of the problem, but so are coffeemakers, hair dryers, toasters, blenders, and any other appliance you can think of. Each appliance draws a small amount, but cumulatively they are sucking your wallet dry.

A 2015 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study shows how these vampire devices can account for up to 23% of power consumption in an average household. In other words, you may be paying almost a quarter of your electricity bill for no good reason. Unplug devices when they're not in use or using smart power strips.

7. The HVAC system is running all the time. 

Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are some of the most energy-demanding components of your home. If your HVAC is running nonstop, it could be a sign that it needs maintenance — or the problem could be your house. Putting off maintenance or resisting upgrades to your HVAC system can be costly, resulting in inefficient operation or energy loss.

The EPA advocates for scheduling annual HVAC maintenance to ensure optimal performance and increase the lifespan of HVAC systems. It also recommends adopting a programmable, smart thermostat that grants you greater control over your home's temperature management, leading to both energy and financial savings.

If performing regular maintenance doesn’t solve the problem of an overactive HVAC system, chances are the problem is a poorly sealed or under-insulated house.

8. Your appliances are from another era. 

Appliances like refrigerators, washing machines, and dishwashers become less efficient (and less fashionable) over time. If your household items have been in service for over a decade or two, they might be operating with a higher energy consumption rate than they should.

A good standard to go by is to invest in ENERGY STAR-certified appliances, which can be up to 50% more energy efficient than their non-certified counterparts. Embracing this upgrade does more than curb energy waste and drop utility bills; it also contributes to a healthier planet. 

9. You're cold, but the heat is on high.

When your home feels chilly despite the heating running at full tilt — or turns into an oven during the summer months — a lack of sufficient insulation is likely the problem. Poor insulation can lead to substantial energy losses, particularly during the colder seasons. Your home’s insulation needs will vary depending on what part of the country you live in.

The Department of Energy demonstrates what type of insulation is best for each region and explains how proper insulation can improve the efficiency of heating and cooling systems by up to 20%.