According to Clean Technica, advanced energy is growing. What exactly does this mean? The world's energy use is growing, and the way in which we consume it is changing, for better and for worse. 

A recent study known as the Advanced Energy Economy Market Report indicated that worldwide, advanced energy has grown to almost $1.3 trillion in global revenue, a 12 percent increase from 2013.

The largest segment of energy revenue was electricity, with a growth of 16 percent. Wind power revenue grew by 40 percent to $95 billion and hydropower grew 45 percent up to almost $122 billion.

Building efficiency grew 12 percent. This can be attributed to a range of factors including commercial and residential energy efficiency retrofits and zero net energy buildings.

Reducing the amount of energy your building uses doesn't have to be hard. Duke Energy Progress highlights 100 ways to save energy at home. Here are just a few:

• Appliances: 

If your fridge is old, leaky or doesn't keep your food cool, it may be time for a change. If you can't afford a new fridge, repair seals on the door to keep cold air in. When doing laundry, wash and dry several loads at once. This keeps your dryer from having to completely heat up from scratch time and time again. In addition, hanging clothes to dry can save even more energy.

• Cooling your home: 

Block the sun with heavy curtains or other window treatments. Repair leaky ducts, check your AC before you need to use it and install ceiling fans wherever possible. Ceiling fans use less energy than heavy ACs. 

• Windows:

Install high-performance windows to protect you and your furniture from harmful UV rays. Find windows with double-glazing and spectrally selective coatings that can keep the heat out and cool air in. 

To conduct a full energy audit, contact Alban Inspections. A home inspection can help you discover the energy efficiency of your house. Visit our website for more information.