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Why Do American Homes Suck? ft. @buildshow Get an exclusive Surfshark deal! Enter promo code UNDECIDED for an extra 3 months free at https://surfshark.deals/undecided. In the process of building my new home, I’ve heard time and time again from many of you that my home’s highly energy efficient features are considered standard in other areas of the world. From the type of window construction to the method of heating water, there’s plenty of room for improvement. But when tech that goes beyond standard here in the U.S. is par for the course elsewhere, this begs the question…why do American homes suck, especially compared to European ones? And what can we do to make them better?
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The U.S. lags significantly behind Europe in residential energy efficiency standards and adoption due to historical cheap energy policy, lack of centralized building codes, and cultural disinterest in efficiency—a gap that persists despite proven cost savings and technical feasibility.
- U.S. ranks 10th of 25 countries on energy efficiency despite being world's largest economy; lacks national energy reduction targets
- State-by-state building codes create a patchwork where some states use pre-2009 standards; Washington's codes are less strict than England's despite similar climate
- Cheap U.S. energy relative to other developed nations (lowest percentage of household income spent on energy) created cultural disinterest in efficiency from the 1970s onward
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The Carter administration installed solar panels on the White House roof in 1979; the Reagan administration removed them in 1986 (the same year it terminated solar tax credits), and photovoltaics remained off the House's grounds until the early 2000s.
“The Carter administration installed solar panels on its roof in 1979. The Reagan administration removed them in 1986...the same year it terminated solar tax credits. Photovoltaics remained off the House's grounds until the early 2000s.”
The U.S. is not legally required and it is common to cover houses in sheathing that is literally paper-thin (weak enough to be opened with a knife), and this has been the norm for decades.
“Where else but the States is it both legal and common to cover houses in sheathing that is literally paper-thin? As in, weak enough to be opened up with a knife, which might be equally as embarrassing as being blown down by a wolf. This isn't a new trend, either: It's been the norm for decades.”
European windows are known for their high performance, particularly triple-glazed glass in tilt-and-turn frames that open inward and provide a strong seal, with several European manufacturers meeting the stringent requirements set by the Passive House Institute in Germany, which can result in up to 90% energy savings and year-round comfort.
“European windows are known for their high performance, particularly triple-glazed glass in tilt-and-turn frames that open inward and provide a strong seal. Several European manufacturers meet the necessary standards set by the Passive House Institute in Germany. And this is no small feat, as Passive Houses' stringent requirements amount to both massive energy savings (sometimes up to 90%) and year-round comfort.”
The tactics governments used to mitigate damage from 1970s oil shocks—particularly Nixon's focus on diplomatic ties with oil-exporting Saudi Arabia and Reagan's emphasis on defunding and suppressing investment in renewables—signify a major turning point in both policy and public perception, creating the illusion of bountiful, endless supplies of cheap fuel.
“The tactics governments used to mitigate the damage caused by the era's oil shocks signify a major turning point in both policy and public perception. Suddenly, the illusion of bountiful, endless supplies of cheap fuel was evaporating into exhaust. Decisions like the Nixon administration's focus on establishing diplomatic ties with oil-exporting Saudi Arabia and the Reagan administration's emphasis on defunding (and even suppressing!) investment into renewables have made the U.S.' priorities at the time clear.”
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory researchers developed a 'thin triple-pane' glass window in 1991 that could reduce energy use and air conditioning costs, but the innovation never took off because American manufacturers found it too expensive.
“It's also worth mentioning that back in 1991, researchers at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California developed their own take on a "thin triple-pane" glass window that could reduce energy use and air conditioning costs. Their innovation never took off…because American manufacturers found it too expensive.”
The International Code Council (ICC) developed the International Building Code (IBC), which has been adopted at some level by all 50 states, updates every three years, and the 2021 version instructs builders and designers to follow the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), but the IBC is a model that state and local governments can amend or ignore entirely.
“The ICC went on to develop the International Building Code (IBC), which has been adopted at some level by all 50 states. The IBC updates every three years, and its current 2021 version instructs builders and designers to follow the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC)...But again, the IBC is a model. State and local governments can choose to amend the code or simply do their own thing.”
Building codes clearly make a difference in energy efficiency outcomes, as demonstrated by the correlation between strong codes and adoption of Passive House standards.
“Building codes clearly make a difference.”
The U.S. is one of very few large energy-consuming economies that lacks national energy reduction targets, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's 2022 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard.
“According to their 2022 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard, the U.S. ranks #10 on a list of 25 countries representing the world's largest energy users. As the organization notes, the U.S. is "one of very few large energy-consuming economies" that lacks national energy reduction targets.”
Triple-glazed windows are not unheard of in the U.S., and the windows of Matt Ferrell's new home were made in the U.S. and nominally close to Passive House standards in quality, though clean comparisons are difficult due to differences in testing methods and the U.S. insistence on using imperial units.
“Triple-glazed windows aren't unheard of in the States. As a matter of fact, the windows of my new home were made in the U.S. and at least nominally close to Passive House standards in terms of quality. It's difficult to make a clean comparison, though, because of differences in how windows are tested and of course, the States' insistence on using imperial units.”
These political decisions resulted in cheaper energy for Americans relative to other developed nations, which has remained stable to the present day, as shown by IEA data indicating the U.S. has the lowest percentage of household income spent on energy costs compared to other major economies.
“These factors translated into cheaper energy for Americans relative to other places, which has remained stable in the present. You can see in this graph by the International Energy Agency (IEA) how the percentage of household income spent on energy costs in the U.S. is all the way at the lowest end relative to other major economies:”
The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes commissioned an analysis before including energy efficiency requirements in the National Model Codes (adopted in 2011) and found that energy codes have the potential to affect up to 81% of energy use in houses and up to 68% of energy use in buildings, resulting in increased efficiency, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower long-term operational costs.
“Canada's National Model Codes didn't include energy efficiency requirements until 2011. Before making that decision, the Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes commissioned an analysis on its potential efficacy. The report found that energy codes have the potential to "affect up to 81% of energy use in houses and up to 68% of energy use in buildings," amounting not just to an increase in efficiency but a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and long-term operational costs. It's cheaper in the long run.”
France invested in nuclear power in response to 1970s oil shocks and now operates one of the largest nuclear programs in the world, with nuclear power plants responsible for generating 68% of France's electricity in 2021.
“But as the States scrambled to return to business as usual in the '70s, France invested in generating its own nuclear power. It now operates one of the largest nuclear programs in the world, with nuclear power plants responsible for generating 68% of France's electricity in 2021.”
The United States does not have a national building code or national energy code; these are instead handled on a state and local basis, with the U.S. not having a comprehensive set of model construction standards until the establishment of the International Code Council in 1994.
“That's because the United States doesn't have a national building code OR a national energy code. These are instead handled on a state and local basis. In fact, the U.S. didn't have a comprehensive set of model construction standards until 1994. That year saw the establishment of the International Code Council, or ICC.”
According to Passive House Institute founder Wolfgang Feist, by 2006 between 6,000 and 7,000 Passive Houses had been constructed in Germany, demonstrating the scale of adoption in that country.
“According to Passive House Institute founder Wolfgang Feist, by 2006 between 6,000 and 7,000 Passive Houses had been constructed in Germany.”
There is a correlation between the popularity of Passive Houses and well-developed, comprehensively applied energy codes, as evidenced by countries with the most Passive House certifications (France: 439, U.K.: 206, Germany: 532) also ranking highest on the ACEEE's energy efficiency scorecard.
“There's also a correlation between the popularity of Passive Houses and well-developed, comprehensively applied energy code. With this in mind, we can compare countries' interest in net zero construction easy peasy because The Passive House Institute conveniently maintains an online database. Considering the locations of the (self-registered) buildings certified by the organization, the numbers line up nicely with the ACEEE's scorecard. The countries that boast hundreds of Passive Houses on the website also happen to be the top three scorers, with 439 in France, 206 in the U.K., and 532 in Germany, in that order.”
Tilt-and-turn windows remain far less common in the U.S. than in Europe, in part because European windows are typically more costly—often because of importing—and also because of the lack of standardization and market familiarity.
“In any case, while it's not impossible to get your hands on highly efficient windows in the U.S., tilt-and-turn windows remain far less common, and it's definitely in part because European windows are typically more costly — often because of importing.”
R-values measure thermal resistance and higher R-values mean better resistance against heat flow and therefore better insulation, while U-values measure thermal transmittance (the rate of heat flow) and lower U-values indicate better insulation.
“When it comes to determining how well a building can weather the elements, R-values and U-values measure thermal resistance and thermal transmittance, respectively. A higher R-value means better resistance against heat flow, and therefore better insulation. U-values are the opposite…it's more like how scores work in golf. You want a lower U-value, which measures the time rate of heat flow.”
Air changes per hour at 50 Pascals (ACH50) is a metric for quantifying air leakage rate in buildings, usually measured by a blower door test, and lower ACH50 values indicate better airtightness and energy efficiency because draftier structures require more energy, have worse ventilation performance, accumulate more moisture, and are less comfortable.
“In this case, we'll discuss air changes per hour (ACH) at a pressure of 50 Pascals, or ACH50. This is one way to quantify the rate of air leakage in the building, which is usually measured by conducting what's known as a blower door test. When designing the thermal envelope of a home, you want fewer air changes and therefore a lower ACH. That's because the draftier a structure is, the less energy efficient it is. More air leakage means worse performance for ventilation systems and increasing the likelihood of accumulating moisture and increased energy costs. Plus, it's just plain uncomfortable.”
The Passive House standard requires maximum air changes per hour (ACH50) of 0.6 or less—less than one air change per hour—making it far more stringent than building codes in the 2021 IECC, Washington state, Canada, or the U.S. Department of Energy's Zero Energy Ready Home standard.
“But for a building to meet the ultra-efficient criteria that defines a Passive House, its air changes per hour must max out at 0.6. Yep…less than one.”
Within the Köppen-Geiger climate classification system, the majority of the U.K. lies in the marine west coast subdivision (Cfb), and Washington state contains some of the few areas in the U.S. categorized as marine west coast climate zones, making them broadly comparable for building code analysis.
“Within the Köppen-Geiger system — the most popular climate classification model — the majority of the U.K. lies in the marine west coast subdivision, or Cfb. With that said, Washington state contains some of the few areas in the U.S. categorized as marine west coast climate zones.”
By the mid-1980s, Sweden and Denmark had already implemented construction standards requiring compliance with low-energy standards in new buildings, and the Passive House movement began its research in 1988, with the initial prototype house in Germany still standing and occupied since 1991.
“And already by the mid 1980s, the construction of new buildings meant compliance with low-energy standards in Sweden and Denmark. Then, the research that kicked off the Passive House movement began in 1988. The initial prototype house in Germany, that still stands and functions today, was first occupied in 1991.”
Some U.S. states are using building code standards as outdated as pre-2009 IECC, and some have no statewide code at all, as shown by the U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program map demonstrating the patchwork-like efficiency of state energy codes.
“This map by The U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program shows how patchwork-like the efficiency of state energy codes is. Notice that some states are using standards as outdated as pre-2009 IECC, and some have no statewide code at all.”
In 2002, the Energy Division of the European Commission released the first Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the EU's first whole-building energy standard, which established guidance for construction of low to zero energy buildings by 2021, while in 2023 the U.S. still lacks a centralized building code or energy goal.
“Around the same time, in 2002 the Energy Division of the European Commission released the first Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the European Union's first whole-building energy standard. Though the Directive allows for member states of the EU to make their own decisions about elements like U-values, it established guidance for construction of low to zero energy buildings by 2021. Meanwhile, it's 2023, and the U.S. doesn't have a centralized building code…much less a _goal._”
Washington state's residential wall insulation requirements as of July 2023 mandate U-values equal to or less than 0.056 for any wall above the ground, whereas English building regulations set maximum U-values of 0.046 for new walls and 0.032 for existing ones, meaning Washington's codes are less strict than England's despite similar climate zones.
“When it comes to insulation based on Washington's IECC-defined climate zones, the council's code mandates that residential walls have U-values (in Btu/h*ft²*°F) no greater than 0.045 for wood frames or 0.082 for mass walls, which are made of materials like concrete or brick. But according to Washington's state code, as of July 2023, any wall above the ground needs to have a U-value equal to or less than 0.056. Meanwhile, across the pond…English building regulations set maximum U-values of (new) walls at 0.046 in new buildings and 0.032 in existing ones. This means that even in the case of an equivalent climate zone, Washington state codes aren't as strict as English code.”
According to architect Steven Baczek (quoted via Matt Risinger), 'It's not that high performance homes cost too much. It's that our idea of a fairly priced new home is based on a history of building houses to meet embarrassingly low performance benchmarks.'
“I think Matt Risinger of the Build Show said it best during a recent interview on my Still TBD podcast when he referenced a quote from architect Steven Baczek: "It's not that high performance homes cost too much. It's that our idea of a fairly priced new home is based on a history of building houses to meet embarrassingly low performance benchmarks."”
Matt Risinger (Build Show) argues that the U.S. disinterest in efficiency is embedded in American culture as a result of the 1980s when gas prices rolled back after increases, and American wages were rising while gas prices stayed flat—conditions that did not occur in Europe, where gas prices remained high (e.g., $8-9 per gallon compared to lower U.S. prices two decades ago).
“I think this is something that's been kind of embedded in American culture for a long time…In the eighties when gas prices…kind of rolled back quite a bit and we enjoyed a pretty long period of time without a massive increase in gas prices, our general wages were going up and gas prices were staying kind of flat. That's not what happened in Europe. It was 25 years, 20 years ago when I visited Europe for the first time as a 20-something, and I couldn't believe that converting the liters to gallons, they were paying like $8 a gallon or $9 a gallon for gas. So it really made sense for me that I saw these small Peugots and these Mini Cooper-like cars because if you're paying $9 for gas…you're gonna all of a sudden be a lot more interested in efficiency, whether it's mandated or not.”
The attitude of 'prioritize lower cost in the present, ignore higher cost in the future' extends to pretty much everything in the U.S., exemplified in how solar energy adoption was deprioritized historically.
“This attitude of "prioritize lower cost in the present, ignore higher cost in the future" extends to pretty much everything in the U.S. I talk about how this relates to solar in my "How Solar Power Got So Cheap … So Fast" video.”
With cheap energy relative to other developed nations came a general disinterest in efficiency in the U.S., and the U.S. continues to use significantly more energy at home and on the road than other countries, according to IEA data.
“The problem is that with that cheap energy came a general disinterest in efficiency. Even now, the U.S. uses significantly more energy at home and on the road than other countries, according to IEA data.”
The most significant obstacles to prioritizing energy efficiency anywhere are political will and money, rooted in historical energy policy choices made in response to 1970s oil shocks.
“Well, the most significant obstacle to prioritizing energy efficiency _anywhere_ is political will and money. We don't have to look much further than the energy crises that pervaded the 1970s to understand why.”
Within the U.S., it is widely believed that energy efficiency is always a luxury, despite the cost savings demonstrated by renewables and systems like Passive House standards.
“Unfortunately, within the U.S. it's widely believed that energy efficiency is always a luxury, despite the cost savings of renewables and systems like Passive House standards that have demonstrated otherwise.”
Tedd Benson, founder of Bensonwood, argues that 'We just don't take home building in particular as seriously as other countries do. The standards that we have in our building codes are just too low.'
“I'll let Tedd Benson, founder of Bensonwood, clue you in: "We just don't take home building in particular as seriously as other countries do. The standards that we have in our building codes are just too low."”
Matt Ferrell's new home features factory-built walls with densely packed cellulose insulation, triple-paned tilt-turn windows, geothermal heating and cooling, a heat pump for hot water and clothes drying, and an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) for fresh air in a very air-tight envelope.
“In my new home, I've gone with factory built walls with densely packed cellulose insulation. The house is also outfitted with triple-paned tilt turn windows, geothermal heating and cooling, and a heat pump for hot water and my clothes dryer. I'm also running an energy recovery ventilator (ERV) that allows for fresh air in a very air-tight envelope.”
Matt Ferrell's walls have an R-value of 35, equivalent to a U-value of 0.029, which is slightly above the Passive House standard for cool climates of about 0.026.
“And for reference…where I live occupies the same climate slot according to the IECC. My walls have an R-value of 35, which is equivalent to a U-value of 0.029. That's just slightly over the Passive House standard for cool climates of about 0.026.”
According to his Home Energy Rating Certificate, Matt Ferrell will save approximately $5,891 on annual energy costs relative to the average home in his area, not including the impact of solar panels that are being installed and commissioned as the video is being completed.
“According to my Home Energy Rating Certificate, I'll be saving approximately $5,891 on energy costs relative to the average home in my area. That's _not_ including the impact of my solar panels on my energy bill. Those are just getting installed and commissioned now as I pulled this video together.”
Matt Ferrell deliberately steered clear of paper-thin sheathing and chose factory-built walls with densely packed cellulose insulation for his new home to exceed standard American building practices.
“I've tried my best to steer clear of that. In my new home, I've gone with factory built walls with densely packed cellulose insulation.”