Location Efficiency and Housing Type
In 2011, EPA supported the development of a study, Location Efficiency and Housing Type - Boiling it down to BTUs, which analyzed levels of energy use associated with different approaches to development. The study found that housing type and location, along with energy-use features of homes and vehicles, each have an important role to play in achieving greater energy efficiency.
Considering the effects of compact, location-efficient development on energy use, the study illustrated two key points:
- The location of a home relative to transportation choices had a large impact on energy consumption. Choosing to live in an area with transportation options not only reduces energy consumption, it also can result in significant savings on home energy and transportation costs.
- The type of housing was also a significant factor for the consumption of energy. The most striking difference was the variation in energy use between single-family detached homes and multifamily homes, due to the latter's inherent efficiencies of more compact sizes and shared walls among units.
- Owning a more energy-efficient vehicle also made significant contributions, especially when combined with a green home and energy-efficient locations.
This 2011 paper illustrated the importance of location, transportation choice, and energy efficiency measures in homes and vehicles to create more sustainable, less energy intensive communities in the future.