FAQ - Where Do I Start to Green my Home?

FAQ - Where Do I Start To Green my Home?

Where do you start?  If you’re like most people, you’ll automatically think that adding solar panels on your roof is first.  But actually, it’s the last item on your list of ways to green your home.  Why?  

Imagine that you’re about to drive to your favorite vacation spot.  You already know how far it is from your home to the best beach where you vacation.  You’re calculating how much gas you’ll need to get there.  There’s a big difference on this trip if you’re driving the family van vs a small compact car.  Now imagine that for your household, there’s a difference in how large of a solar system you’ll need based on your energy consumption.

You see, if you are able to downsize the amount of energy you use prior to adding solar, you might just save money on a smaller solar system.  Figuring the size of the size of your system requires you to provide 12 months of your utility bills.  But how do you know what to do first?

Your first step is to get an Energy Audit.  My analogy of an Energy Audit is a home inspection on steroids.  Sounds expensive, right?  Not really.  Check with your local utility provider as they might be offering a discounted Energy Audit.  Here in Arizona, APS and SRP are offering a $99 Energy Audit. They have an approved list of service providers on their websites.

Check out the Department of Energy's link for information about an Energy Audit.  Try out APS’ Home Energy Test  to learn more if you are in APS territory; or if you're in SRP territory, check out their site for more information and SRP has a great video to explain the process.

Anytime you’re looking to make improvements to your home, it’s always best to start researching the project and know the ins and outs of what is expected, including greening your home.