Prepare Your Home for Wind or Solar Energy

Conserve now to save later. Reducing your energy use will keep a lid on the cost of your future alternative energy system. A smaller load requires a smaller system.

Doing simple things can cut your energy load

Install the most energy efficient appliances.

Replace your regular incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFL).

Eliminate your phantom loads (hidden electricity users like chargers left plugged in).

Use cold water to wash your clothes.

Insulate your basement, walls and attic.

Efficiency pays off

Refrigerators and freezers use more electricity per year than almost all other appliances. Your solar electric system would cost over $2000 less if you use energy efficient models.

Eliminate phantom loads

Some appliances draw power even when you think they're turned off. Invisible phantom loads waste energy and cost you money. The solution is easy.

Track down energy tricksters

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

Does it have a transformer?

Those little cubes attached to the electrical prongs hold a transformer that draws power when plugged in, even if the rest of the appliance is not plugged in.

Does it use a remote control?

Like a homing device, an appliance is constantly on the lookout for a signal from its remote controller.

Is it a TV?

Almost all TVs have a quick start feature that uses energy constantly.

Does it have a visible clock?

An electric clock is always keeping time.

Can you set it to do something later?

The internal clock keeps time so it knows when to record a TV show or brew a pot of coffee.

Block thieves at the door

How do you know if an appliance has a "phantom load" lurking inside? If you answer yes to one or more of these questions about an electrical gadget, it's hiding a phantom.

Plug phantom carriers into an accessible power strip.

Use a 2-step shutdown process:

1) Turn off the device.

2) Turn off the power strip (or unplug the device) to turn off the phantom

3) Use a circuit interrupter power strip that completely blocks electric flow when turned off.

If you take the time to prepare your home for alternative energy, you will stand a much better chance of seeing a good return on your investment.