The Pyramid of Conservation: A Wonder of the Energy Efficiency World.

We've written about energy efficiency as art before. But this energy efficiency pyramid from Minnesota Power takes the concept to a whole, new level. (Sorry, we can't help ourselves.)

We recently discovered the Pyramid of Conservation through Home Performance NC's blog. Not only is it elegant, but we  believe it's one of the best visualizations of the home energy to-do list we've seen. Here's why it works:

First, it begins with the basic of the basic: information. Only when you understand where your home is using energy, why it's using energy, and where that energy is going, can you start to make smart changes. The pyramid recommends a home energy audit as Step 1, and we couldn't agree more. Naturally, we'd augment that first level with energy monitoring (the folks at Minnesota Power had the right idea by including the Home Energy Yardstick). Monitoring electricity usage is a fairly new business, with a lot of start-ups and a lot of potential. As such, it's a field that's often overlooked in the energy discussion. We've found that electricity monitoring can lead to 15 percent savings pretty easily—through mere awareness and simple behavioral changes. It's almost like osmosis.

Second, the pyramid, um, points out that high-cost, slow-return investments such as solar panels and residential wind turbines are really icing on the cake. Like the "sweets" that top out the food pyramid or sprinkles on a sundae, we believe solar panels and replacement windows can be wonderful—once you've eaten your fruits and vegetables.

To pros, the Pyramid of Conservation may seem simplistic, or even a bit off in the details -- we have some quibbles ourselves with where in the hierarchy certain things are located, and understand also that the importance of regional and climatic differences are understated in the pyramid. To the average homeowner, it may not make sense: Can air sealing really have more of an impact than solar panels? Short answer: Yes.

Think of it this way: In this growing residential energy efficiency market, big industries are all vying for homeowners' attention -- witness yet another full page Pella ad in the New York Times (for replacement windows and doors). A strikingly simple visualization could be the perfect monument on which we can set our sights. Thanks, Minnesota Power, for building it.