How can we, in one 'big bang', reduce the costs of energy-consumption to cool and heat our homes?

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It might help if we built our homes with thicker more insulated walls and windows. This would keep the warm air inside in the winter and the cool air inside in the summer. People would use their heaters and air conditioners less often. This would result in less CFC's being released into the atmosphere. CFC's deplete the ozone layer.

Smog contains mostly Ozone (O3), however, it is bad Ozone for humans because it is too low. Ozone is created when Nitrous Oxides (NOx) react with Volitile Organic Compounds (VOC's) in sunlight. VOC's have many sources. Among those are vehicle exhaust, chemicals in the air, gas fumes, paints, preservatives, aeresol sprays, pesticides, dry-cleaning emissions.

If your goal is to eliminate smog, I would concentrate on eliminating the VOC's we create everyday. Ride a bike to work and stop getting your shirts dry cleaned with those chemicals....Show more

Why should we be looking for a 'big bang'? If there were a big bang that was actually an viable option, then I am sure that it would have happened by now. The reality of life and the environment is that there is not one single thing that will reduce energy-consumption to heat and cool our homes.

The biggest way to reduce the energy consumption would be to not heat our homes to a toasty temperature during winter and drop in just a couple of degrees and be willing to wear warm clothes in our homes and not shorts and a T-shirt. Completely getting rid of Air conditioning all together would be a huge energy reduction. However, for this to happen we all need to be willing to sacrifice. We have the luxury of being able to cool our homes. This is not our right. If cooling our homes is doing more harm than good, then we need to stand up and say that we are willing to live without air conditioning.

As far as the smog goes, well the smog you are talking about is not being caused primarily by heating and cooling homes. Smog is consistant of ozone which id formed from NOx and VOCs (if you want to learn what these are, do a search on them). The largest source of ozone, a.k.a. smog is TRANSPORTATION, it causes 50% of the ozone. The only way that reducing heating and cooling would reduce smog is to reduce power consumption which would thereby decrease power plant emissions of NOx. However; the majority of the smog would remain from transportation....Show more

Some of these make sense, but not every one is practical. Most people don't live close enough to work or school to ride a bike. What do you do when it rains? We're entering storm season around here. I wouldn't want to be on a bike during a thunderstorm. Many of us can't afford new hybrid-electric cars, though if you want to buy me one, be my guest and I'll help the environment. It's too cloudy too often around here for solar power to be practical. Wind is even less practical. About the only time we have much wind is during thunderstorms. The home energy ideas are generally pretty good. I'm not convinced on fluorescent light bulbs yet, mine don't last that long, not like they say they're supposed to. I've given up on them. But if you want a good idea, you could shut off the computer....Show more

Actually, I may be considering a bridge purchase myself, lol! (look at other answer)

I've been pondering a theory for a few years now on a fully self sufficient power source for homes. I would love to have the money to finance an actual experiment one day. Think about it, with all the technology we have today, trust me, it's possible! I won't disclose all the details, cause you will not be stealing my idea, lmao, but I am a electrical foreman specializing in automation and controls, so I know a little something about how electricity works.

Imagine having all the power you need, and never paying an electric bill. I can make that happen, but it will never happen. Why? Cause too many people make money from our energy bills, and that's the bottom line. Those that have the power to do something about it, make money from it!!!

Oh and about the smog, MOVE!!! EEWWW!! LMFAO!...Show more

I live in Central Texas, among the hotter places in our nation. We still have not used the air conditioner at all this year. You can be comfortable without it in weather up to 90 degrees, no joke! We keep the windows open about 2 inches all the time. We use locks so that no one outside can open the window more than this. They are very cheap, you can get them at wal-mart or wherever. Although we don't have very cold winters here, I think you can be warm enough most of the time with just a space heater in the room(s) you are using. If you have a fireplace, they can generate alot of heat. Turn your computer off or in sleep mode when not in use. We keep all appliances unplugged and off when not in use. This reduces electricity used, as well as noise and heat they can emit. Right now, there is no "magical solution" or 'big bang'. Be a repsonsible person, and take care to do the little things that add up. Get your air conditioner/heater serviced once a year to make sure it is working efficiently, and keep your filters changed/cleaned. There is maintenence that can be done to the hot water heater to make it work more efficiently. Use the energy efficient light bulbs and keep lights off unless you REALLY need them. During the day, most lights remain off at all times at my house. There are so many ways to insulate your house (attic/wall insulation, double-pane windows, siding, weather stripping) Shrubs and trees can do a WHOLE lot to shade your home, and they help the air quality becuase they use up the carbon dioxide we emit. There are lots of attractive plants you could plant, especially on whichever side of your house gets the most sun. Really, you have to take a little bit of time and effort to adapt your lifestyle. There are very few quick fixes in this world, and most everything is worth doing right....Show more