Loading ...How to go green and lower your energy costs
The summer heat is back and that usually means higher energy costs have arrived as well. But there are some simple things you can do to bring them down and some special incentives from APS (www.aps.com/greenchoice). that can help you out.
One of the simplest things to do is to change your lights to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs. Not only will they use about 25% of the energy that a typical bulb does, but they also won’t put out the heat that incandescent bulbs do. What’s more, CFLs will last you about 10 times longer meaning lower replacement costs. In fact, with each bulb you replace you’ll be saving well over $30 in energy and replacement costs over the life of the bulb.
It’s no surprise that the largest source of energy usage for a typical customer in the Arizona deserts is keeping your home cool. And the key to lowering your energy cost is simply keeping the heat out. The largest source of heat gain is through your windows. You can replace them with high efficiency models, but that can be expensive. Some less expensive options that will help are installing shade screens, window tinting or awnings. Even landscaping that provides shade can make a big difference.
If you do decide to replace your windows, look for ones that have a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of .35 or lower. And make sure they have an ENERGY STAR® designation which shows they have been tested for efficiency.
One of the most important things you can do is to have your duct work tested and repaired. It’s not uncommon for 15% of your cooling energy to be wasted due to duct leakage. APS offers its customers up to $250 in rebates to help cover the cost (you can call the APS Energy Line at (602) 371-3636 for a referral to an APS qualified contractor).
If it is time for a new air conditioner keep in mind that new electric heat pumps and AC units are about 40% to 50% more efficient than units installed just 15 years ago. It may seem like a big investment, but you’ll notice lower bills right away. APS also offers rebates of up to $525 to help defray some of the cost.
Once you’ve made those efficiency changes, consider installing solar energy. A solar water heater can save up to 15% on your utility bill, and with APS rebates and federal and state tax credits, you can save up to 80% of the cost. A system that costs $5,000 may end up costing around $1,000 after incentives and pay for itself in just a few short years.
You can also take advantage of our 300 days of sunshine by installing solar panels to create a portion of your own energy. For residential customers, APS offers a rebate of up to $3 per installed watt. And, when you combine that with federal and state tax credits, well over 50% of the cost can be covered for you.
So even though the summer heat is here, high utility bills don’t have to be. You can find information on all of the APS incentives as well as other energy saving tips at www.aps.com/greenchoice.
Rex Stepp is the Program Rep for the APS Renewable Energy Incentive Program working with customers to help promote the use of renewable resources.
Your savings federally insured to at least $250,000 and backed by the full faith and credit of the United States Government. National Credit Union Administration, a U.S. Government Agency.
Rexx,
Thank you for the great advice about energy efficient homes.
Business and non-profits are also improving.
Here is the “Green” page I just added to to my website after reading your article.
http://www.HRaz.com/green.asp
Thanks!
Paul Breslau
Good windows are a huge way to save energy on home cooling and heating.
But you can do more to those windows to insulate them even further. Solar
screens and window film really keep heat and even UV rays from penetrating
even the best windows. Energy efficient window treatments can also be
added to greatly reduce heat gain in your living area. There are some
new products on the market that address this issue specifically while
still offering you beautifully dressed windows. You can take a look at
some of these products at http://www.azblinds.com or give us a call.
Thanks for the questions Ariel. We’ve created some fact sheets that you may find helpful online at http://www.aps.com/aps_services/residential/waystosave/ResWaystoSave_9.html. You’ll find general information sheets regarding landscaping and energy efficient appliances among others.
It’s hard to give very specific ideas for landscaping because you may have HOA restrictions that affect what you are able to place in your yard. But in general terms landscaping can help provide shade which can help to reduce the amount of heat gain coming through windows. That’s especially important if you have an east/west facing home with a lot of window space. Check with your HOA and a local plant nursery to find what can work for you, but being strategic about where you plant trees and/or tall bushes can provide helpful shading. You can find additional tips on reducing your energy costs for your home at http://www.aps.com/aps_services/residential/waystosave/ResWaystoSave_9.html.
The answer to your question about ENERGYSTAR® appliances really is “It depends.” The price will vary based on the features you’re looking for with your appliances. The Department of Energy actually does a pretty good job of helping you find the right appliances to meet your needs at http://www.energystar.gov. You’ll be able to compare models of different types of appliances as well as search for available rebates (if you’re an APS customer you may also qualify for rebates on CFLs, air conditioners, duct testing & repair and solar technology found which can be found at http://www.aps.com/greenchoice). The key to remember is that even if an ENERGYSTAR® appliance costs more (and they don’t always), you’ll typically more than make up the difference in energy savings.
Regarding Solar Energy, (after all this is get Az Moving) Our state is essentially Broke And Needs
to generate income with all this sunshine available We should be pushing “Solar” at every opportunity. With all our open desert, we should be building solar Plants/Farms/manufacturing facilities to build Panels (creating Jobs) and possibly helping States with less Sunshine “Buy” Energy produced buy the Sun. Arizona needs to “Produce” income generating Products BEYOND SPORTS/CASINOS. Perhaps with our vast expanses of land could be leased for Solar collectors, granted some of this is Indian Reservation, But I Frankly think Solar would be a better Investment for tribes than Casinos. Leave Vegas where it is. We by the Grace of GOD put a man on the moon, surely we can do better than building a Thousand Casinos in every State in the Union.
Pat Barry says:
White Mountain area is the best for both solar and wind power. We live here and understand the need to lower our power bills. Our company does FREE SITE EVALUATION; so you can be free from High Electric Bills. Become Totally Self Sufficient.
Affordable Solar and Wind
(928) 532-1797
I was so frustrated with my APS bill that i took my engineering background and analyzed exactly how my bill was calculated. To my shock, the largest portion of my bill was something i did not know existed. You probably don’t either.. DEMAND.
I tried to explain it to many of my AZ friends, but found it difficult over the phone so i made this amateur video so i could use visuals to explain.
Bottom line is that you can save up to 50% if you just know how this is calculated and adjust. I dropped my APS bill from $280 to $160 the first month once i understood this. I also built the website below not only to host the video, but provide a chart of appliance use. It is all very easy to understand and implement.
http://www.aps-savings.com
John
check this service out. Click on link.