[johanvts]

It is also a bad thing because it makes it reasonable to live in houses that are not properly insulated and just run the air heater on full blast all winter, like I did when I was living in the US. In Denmark the kWh price is around 0.5$ (the wast majority of that is taxes), and the energy efficiency of the house is a key data point in any house purchase and is always listed next to the price.

[PragmaticPulp]

In many US locations we use gas heat instead of electric. It’s far more efficient to burn fuel for heat instead of burning fuel for electricity and then converting that electricity to heat.

US building codes are also increasingly strict about insulation and energy efficiency. Premium home builders go even further with insulation. In some locations, new houses are so well insulated and sealed that extra fresh air heat recovery units are necessary to exchange the indoor air.

[nikomen]

Building codes are strict, but unfortunately building codes aren't often followed closely enough.

I recently noticed in the house I just purchased that a lot of cold air was coming in behind my kitchen cabinets and appliances. I pulled out my range and noticed that cold air was rushing through the gap between the drywall and the floor. Fortunately a can of expandable foam was an easy fix.

This house is only 2 years old. Corners were cut when building which makes this home not as efficient as it could be. I'm hoping to make gradual improvements.

Even though my electricity rate is only around $0.12/kwh and my gas bill isn't high, I'd still like to do what I can both for the environment and to save money.

[JoeAltmaier]

Electricity may be a bad example. Creating electricity is very efficient. Its marginally more efficient to use gas? What's better about gas heat is, it takes load off the (possibly) overloaded electric grid, taking pressure off the need to expand it.

[belval]

This is only true if you don't enforce building codes that ensure everything is built with good insulation.

In Canada (Quebec) we pay 0.06$/kWh but the government gives incentive for energy efficiency as a tax deductible.