How to Slash Your Energy Bill in Half Using These Little-Known Renewable Systems

Conduct an Energy Audit

The first step I took to slash my energy bill was to conduct an energy audit. This involves taking a detailed look at where and how I use energy in my home. I walked through each room and noted things like poor insulation, air leaks around windows and doors, and old appliances. This helped me identify the biggest energy drains and prioritize upgrades.

Some key things I looked for during the audit:

• Windows and doors: Checked for air leaks and opportunities to improve insulation. Caulking and weatherstripping around windows and doors can pay off.

• Heating and cooling systems: Assessed age, efficiency, and maintenance needs of HVAC equipment. Upgrading to an Energy Star certified system can cut usage substantially.

• Lighting: Swapped out all incandescent bulbs for LEDs. They use at least 75% less energy.

• Major appliances: Checked age and got rid of older, inefficient refrigerators, dishwashers, etc. Look for Energy Star models.

• Water heater: A new energy-efficient one can lower costs. Heat pump models are most efficient.

• Insulation: Added insulation to attics, basements and walls to prevent heat loss.

Install Solar Panels

Installing solar panels has been one of the best investments I've made. The panels generate renewable electricity from sunlight and feed it directly back into my home. This significantly lowered my reliance on grid electricity.

Here are some key steps I took to go solar:

• Researched panel options and got multiple installer quotes. Compared costs, warranties, efficiency and aesthetics.

• Settled on a 5 kW system with high efficiency monocrystalline panels. Optimal for my energy usage.

• Took advantage of the federal solar tax credit, which covers 26% of installation costs. This helped offset the upfront price.

• Negotiated net metering with my utility to get credit for excess power generated. This helps maximize savings.

• Installed panels on my south-facing roof to capture maximum sunlight throughout the day.

• Monitored production through an app and online portal. First year, my panels produced over 7,000 kWh of clean energy!

Upgrade Thermostats with Smart Controls

I upgraded all of my thermostats to smart thermostats which have saved me big on heating and cooling costs. The key features that optimize energy savings include:

• Connecting to home WiFi for remote access and control via smartphone. I can adjust temperatures on-the-go.

• Learning my schedule and automatically adjusting temperatures when I'm home, away, or sleeping. This avoids energy waste.

• Tracking real-time energy usage and showing insights into highest usage times and patterns.

• Working seamlessly with other smart home devices like voice assistants to enable voice control.

• Supporting geofencing technology to detect when I'm approaching/leaving home and auto-adjust temperature.

• Offering integrations with local weather forecasts to optimize heating and cooling.

Since installing Nest and Ecobee smart thermostats with these features, I've cut HVAC costs by over 20% without sacrificing comfort!

Embrace Time-of-Use Electricity Rates

Leveraging time-of-use or variable electricity rates from my utility has been helpful. Here's the approach:

• Shifted high energy usage activities like running the clothes washer/dryer and dishwasher to off-peak hours when rates are lowest.

• Set appliances like pool pumps on timers to avoid peak rate periods.

• Charged EVs and electronic devices overnight when rates are cheapest.

• Programmed smart thermostats to temporarily adjust temperatures during peak events.

• Installed an energy storage system to bank solar energy during the day for use in evenings.

• Signed up for demand response programs where the utility can manage high energy appliances during peak times.

Using energy wisely when rates are highest has helped lower my monthly costs by around 15%. I keep an eye on hourly pricing online or via smartphone apps.

Seal Air Leaks and Improve Insulation

One of the easiest ways I've lowered my energy usage is by sealing hidden air leaks and improving insulation. This helps minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.

Here are the key steps I've taken:

• Performing an air leakage test to identify gaps and cracks. Targeted areas like ducts, fireplaces, attic hatches, and outlets.

• Caulking and weatherstripping around windows, doors, pipes, and wiring holes. Great low cost fix.

• Installing spray foam insulation in difficult to reach places and rim joists. Expands to seal gaps.

• Upgrading attic insulation from R-19 to R-38. This improved heat retention and lowered AC costs.

• Adding insulated cellular shades to windows to provide an extra layer of insulation.

• Using advanced materials like radiant barrier sheathing and insulation with higher R-values.

Each improvement cut down on drafts and made my home more comfortable. I've estimated around 10% per year savings on heating and cooling by buttoning up air leaks.

Lower Water Heating Bills

To reduce energy usage from water heating I've made upgrades like:

• Installing an on-demand tankless water heater that only heats water as needed. More efficient than storing hot water.

• Repairing any leaky faucets and pipes to avoid wasted hot water and energy.

• Setting water heater temperature to 120°F instead of default 140°F. Still provides hot water.

• Adding pipe insulation to prevent heat loss as hot water travels to fixtures. Easy DIY.

• Using low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to reduce hot water consumption.

• Running full loads in the dishwasher instead of frequent small loads.

• Washing clothes in cold water whenever possible. Avoids heat energy usage.

• Adding a timer to limit recirculation pump runtimes.

With these hot water savings tactics, I've reduced related energy costs by around 25% annually. Every bit adds up!