Since 2020, at Schneider Electric we have been monitoring how our attitudes towards our homes have shifted, and how global events can often skew our priorities.
Most homeowners think small when it comes to saving energy – turning off lights, unplugging chargers, adjusting the thermostat. But here is the truth: these habits barely move the needle. Real home energy efficiency comes from understanding where your money is actually going and using smarter systems to take back control.
The uncomfortable truth about your energy bill
Lighting gets all the attention. Switch to LEDs and turn off bulbs when you leave the room: these are the first things everyone suggests. Good start. But lighting accounts for just 3-5% of the average home energy bill. Meanwhile, heating and hot water – the real culprits – represent the single largest portion of home energy consumption. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling alone account for nearly 50% of home energy use. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy – energy.gov/energysaver)
The gap between awareness and action is where most homeowners are stuck. This guide is designed to close it. Evolving home energy consumption: Intentions, actions, and hurdles to greater home energy efficiency | Schneider Electric
3 biggest home energy concerns and what they really mean
Based on Schneider Electric’s 2023 Global Home Survey (conducted August 2023 across multiple markets):
- Home Energy Efficiency (#1 concern, +10pts since 2021) Reducing waste and lowering bills without compromising on comfort. This is the foundation everything else builds on.
- Energy Security (#2 concern, new entry in 2023) Protecting home energy supply against grid disruptions. Extreme weather events have pushed solar panels and battery storage from luxury to necessity.
- Energy Independence (#3 concern, new entry in 2023) Breaking free from volatile energy markets by generating and storing your own power through renewables.
To learn more about the results of our 2023 global consumer survey, read the report here.
Stop fixing the wrong things: Where energy savings really happens
When Schneider Electric asked homeowners what actions they were taking to cut energy use, tackling lighting came out on top. It is a feel-good fix – easy, visible, and inexpensive. But it only addresses 2-3% of a typical energy bill. The highest-impact areas for home energy efficiency and savings are:
- Heating and hot water: The largest single share of most home energy bills. Heating and cooling account for nearly 50% of home energy use in U.S. households. (Source: U.S. Department of Energy: energy.gov/energysaver)
- Standby and vampire loads: Devices left on standby silently consume energy 24/7. Standby power accounts for 5-10% of residential energy use. (Source: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: standby.lbl.gov)
- EV charging and large appliances: Running these during peak tariff hours can significantly inflate bills. Shifting them to off-peak times is one of the fastest wins available to modern homeowners.
3 high-impact home energy efficiency changes that actually work
1. Know Your Tariff and Use It Strategically
Most homeowners do not know whether they are on a flat, variable, or dynamic tariff and that gap is costing them money. Variable and dynamic tariffs reward off-peak usage with lower rates. Automated systems like Wiser by Schneider Electric shift loads automatically so you capture savings without thinking about it.
2. Upgrade to Smart Heating Controls
Smart heating solutions like Wiser can save up to 30% in home energy use 19% from multi-zone control and 16% from smart features like Away Mode, Eco Mode, and open window detection. The system tracks outdoor temperatures and adjusts schedules automatically.
3. Automate With a Home Energy Management System (HEMS)
A HEMS optimizes your entire home’s energy use automatically shifting EV charging to off-peak hours, eliminating standby waste, maximizing solar self-consumption, and giving you real-time visibility into usage. According to the IEA, smart home energy management systems could reduce residential energy consumption by up to 10% globally.
The future: AI-powered home energy efficiency
The next frontier is AI-powered automation. Rather than relying on homeowners to manually adjust settings, AI systems learn daily routines, anticipate energy needs, and make real-time decisions in the background. For a household with an EV, an AI system calculates the exact charge needed for a commute, times it to the cheapest tariff window, prioritizes solar when available, and avoids overloading home electrical capacity all without any input from the homeowner.
Home energy efficiency is not just personal – it’s global
Homes account for approximately 22% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. But this is also where the energy transition can move fastest. When homeowners shift from passive consumers to active energy producers – generating, storing, and managing their own power the impact scales far beyond the individual household. Schneider Electric’s research also found a rising interest in sustainable lifestyles beyond the home, with more homeowners prioritizing walkable neighborhoods (+3pts) and public transportation access (+9pts).
Start improving your home energy efficiency today
You do not need to overhaul your home to make a real difference. Start with your tariff. Upgrade your heating controls. Automate what you can. Each step builds on the last and the savings add up faster than you expect.
Learn more about home savings in our Home Energy Savings page.
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