By James E. Strachan
Special to the OC Voice

1. Investigate and if necessary improve the energy efficiency of your home. There are several ways to improve the energy efficiency of your home. Some improvements cost nothing, some cost less than the energy they save and some are more extensive but always cost effective. Energy efficiency is the least costly method to reduce your electric bill. It is never cost effective to use a solar electric system to generate energy used inefficiently.

Follow common sense to save energy overall and do your research before installing your home solar system.

The no cost method of improving energy efficiency is simply being prudent. Turn off the lights when you leave a room, be conservative when setting the thermostat, and don’t fall asleep with the TV turned on. The list is endless but even modest changes can have an appreciable effect on your usage profile.

Next make sure your major appliances are energy efficient and if possible Energy Star rated. Replacing an old energy hog refrigerator with a modern energy efficient model can result in dramatic energy savings. There are rebates and tax credits available for making various energy efficiency improvements to your home, for more detailed information visit www.flexyourpower.org.

2. Get Three Bids. You don’t need to get more than three bids. Getting too many bids can lead to confusion and the failure to make a decision. Three bids will be sufficient to know if your pricing is competitive and the recommended system size is consistent. Read the full story