According to Reuters, renewable energy supplies in eight major economies are projected to double by 2030 due to new national climate and energy plans. 

This projection, compiled by the World Resources Institute (WRI) found that the clean energy supply created by eight of the world's 10 largest greenhouse emitters — Brazil, China, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico and the United States — will jump to 20,000 terawatt hours.

This number is equivalent to India's current energy demand.

"These new renewable energy targets send strong signals to energy markets and investment circles," said Jennifer Morgan, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI. "Combined with the Paris climate agreement, it's clear that renewable energy is poised to surge forward in the next 15 years bringing clean and affordable power to millions of people worldwide."

In addition to global changes, advancements are also being made in the U.S. on other fronts. Recent data from the Pew Research Center has found that American homes are about 31 percent more energy efficient (as measured in energy usage per square foot) than 1970. 

Despite this though, homes have also grown in size, about 28 square feet on average, which does not cancel out the energy efficient change, but rather, balances the two. All these energy efficient gains effectively allow Americans to own bigger homes and have more appliances running without causing a huge surge in energy usage.

One of the biggest notable changes found during this study is the amount of heat that homes use, now about 21 percent less for newer homes as compared to their older counterparts. 

If you're interested in learning more about the energy efficiency of your home, schedule a consultation with Alban Inspections today or visit our website.