In previous weeks, it was been reported that a new bipartisan bill on energy efficiency – sponsored by New Hampshire Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen and Ohio Republican Senator Rob Portman – was making its way through Congress. Known as the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act – or, alternatively, just Shaheen-Portman – the bill has finally made its way to the Senate floor, where advocates are hopeful that a debate will end with the eco-friendly legislation becoming law.

According to the Huffington Post, Shaheen-Portman presents a win-win situation for both Congress and the United States. But why exactly is this bill so important?

The United States is one of the largest consumers of energy in the world, second only to China. Consequently, the country unnecessarily spends billions of dollars per year on wasted power, simultaneously making serious contributions to climate change. But there's no grand source for this problem. Instead, the issue stems from the small, common conveniences we use without thinking in our day-to-day lives.

For example, the source reports, a typical computer uses 65 to 250 watts a day. A monitor burns an extra 35 to 80 watts. While these numbers may be statistically insignificant on their own, multiplied over 310 million computers used across the country, they represent a considerable factor in the nation's electricity usage. Shaheen-Portman looks to amend this problem by investing in energy efficient computers, which will not only save energy but also billions of tax dollars.

Homeowners in Virginia can make their own green upgrades by scheduling an appointment for a home inspection. Virginia home inspectors can perform an energy audit of your property, assessing the power demands of your home and helping you find ways to improve energy use and reduce utility expenses.