We all need a shelter. We need to heat our homes in the winter, cool our homes in the summer, turn on the lights, and use our appliances. This all comes at a cost to you, the homeowner, both financially and comfort-wise.

Living in an energy-efficient home may help you alleviate these costs by reducing the amount of energy required to operate your home, while also benefiting from features that help improve your comfort. Considering how much of our time we spend indoors, it's good to know that an energy-efficient home is more comfortable to live in.

When you're ready to sell, having an energy-efficient home also means comfort and savings for future owners, which may give you that extra edge on the market. If you're planning to buy a home, it can also come in handy to know what energy efficiency features to look for.