What is holding back energy efficiency in the United States?

In 2013, the concept of energy efficiency in America is not an unknown one. Many homeowners by now are aware of what living a greener lifestyle entails, and how conserving energy can both help the environment and yield significant amounts of savings on utility bills. But while more people than ever are aware of eco-friendly living, and the country as a whole has taken some significant strides toward efficiency, Americans are still by and large missing the smallest and easiest of tasks in reducing energy waste. According to The Washington Post, many homeowners and companies continue to follow poor conservation practices, forming an "efficiency gap" that creates a missed opportunity for up to 30 percent in potential savings. So why the disconnect?

As the source reports, one of the principal factors in continuing energy waste is how the costs are distributed. In the case of people who rent their home, it's the tenants who have to pay the bills, not the landlord. Since the owners in this scenario aren't seeing either the expenses or savings in energy bills, there's no financial incentive for them to invest into more energy efficient homes. Another main contributor is that many people simply don't know how much energy they're using. Looking at the bottom line on an electricity bill is one thing, but if the occupants of a building don't know how conservative or inefficient their light bulbs, televisions or kitchen appliances are, they don't know where to make the necessary adjustments.

This is what makes a home inspection so beneficial, particularly to those living in the Maryland area. By scheduling an appointment with Maryland home inspectors, homeowners can learn exactly how efficient their residence is and what measures can be performed to decrease utility costs.