Since the invention of the light bulb, energy distribution in the United States has followed a very traditional and largely unchanged model in the form of the electrical grid. Every year, utility companies sell $400 billion of electricity to American homeowners using 2.7 million miles of power lines that run throughout the country. It's the largest machine in the world and, according to Bloomberg, it could be coming to an end.

The basic idea behind energy efficiency is improving how a household uses and regulates power, so that it can rely on less electricity supplied from the grid, resulting in cheaper utility bills every month. But as Bloomberg reports, with green power gaining traction and energy efficient homes becoming more commonplace in the U.S., the grid may lose relevancy entirely, especially as homeowners begin moving towards more renewable sources. Solar power, in particular, has become one lucrative example, with tens of thousands of households and businesses across the country generating their own energy thanks to these arrays.

David Crane, CEO of the Princeton, New Jersey-based NRG Energy, says that this trend of "homegrown green energy" represents a decentralized alternative to the traditional grid system and could potentially replace it altogether. Instead of merely paying lower utility bills, there may not be any utilities period, with household power being generated completely onsite from renewable energy sources.

While this scenario is still years away from happening, it does indicate that not only is energy efficiency here to stay but that it will likely end up drastically altering how we perceive power use. In the meantime, Maryland homeowners can have the efficiency capabilities of their houses upgraded by making an appointment for a home inspection. Professional Maryland home inspectors can assess how your property utilizes energy and what measures can be taken to make life a little greener.