U.S. houses are more energy efficient ... or are they? In this video, Tyler Crowe explains how modern houses are more energy efficient on a square foot basis, but since newer houses are bigger, they consume more energy on a per home basis. Utility companies will not be hurt by this trend. However, how utilities generate electricity is important. NRG Energy (NRG +3.34%) and TransCanada are better-positioned to exploit cheap natural gas than Exelon (EXC +0.36%) or Duke (DUK 0.60%). Also, new EPA regulations may significantly impact utilities that rely on coal or nuclear for electricity generation.
U.S. Houses Are More Efficient ... Sort Of
Recent statistics on increasing home efficiency are somewhat misleading.
By Tyler Crowe and austin smith – Feb 14, 2013 at 9:06PM EST
About the Author
Tyler Crowe is a contributing Stock Market Analyst for The Motley Fool. He has worn several hats over the past 14 years with the Fool from analyzing stocks, writing about them, talking about them, coaching others about stock writing, and...you get the idea. Tyler's true passion is turing over stones to find the oddball investments with incredible wealth building potential. If he isn't nose-deep in a proxy statement, Tyler is probably skiing somewhere. Tyler holds an M.B.A. from Collège des Ingénieurs (Paris), a, M.S. in Environmental Engineering, a B.S. in Civil Engineering, and a B.S. in Foreign Affairs from the University of New Hampshire.
Stocks Mentioned
Exelon
NASDAQ: EXC
$46.93
(+0.37%)+$0.18
Duke Energy
NYSE: DUK
$127.27
(-0.60%)-$0.77
NextEra Energy
NYSE: NEE
$95.28
(-1.01%)-$0.97
NRG Energy
NYSE: NRG
$159.69
(+3.34%)+$5.16
*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.




