With energy prices erratically on the rise, strong utility and tax incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy are a great enticement to help lower your bills and also become part of the solution to our nation's energy problems.

If you own an energy hog of a building, start chipping away one issue at a time in a maximum-benefit-per-cost manner: Energy Audit to diagnose the needs and best options for your home or building. Weatherization. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs. Changing air filters regularly. Duct sealing. Shade screens. Properly-installed insulation. Shade trees.  On demand water recirculation. Cool roof. Dual pane, low-e windows. High efficiency HVAC unit. Your order of action will vary depending upon your specific situation but Arizona Public Service just changed the equation for their customers, starting with a $99 energy audit for homeowners! This invaluable diagnosis usually runs $400 - $600. And they introduced a whole slew of new rebates for various energy retrofit activities. 

Combating energy waste and fossil fuel-induced global warming in a new home or building is much easier. It's best start not with buying products or technology, but with designing a structure smartly. In our climate, that includes basic concepts such as North-South orientation, vertical shading on the East and West, horizontal shading on the South, and overhangs. A good environmental architect can handle the more complex strategies.

Arizona also harbors a growing need to re-evaluate our water consumption. Despite the rains of the last year, our beautiful desert has been experiencing record droughts for years, as well as record population growth. Adding to the threat is the salt from domestic water softeners that is raising the salinity of our groundwater. Every home presents many opportunities to save on water consumption, the largest being with landscaping and their accompanying irrigation systems. Indoor opportunity involves retrofitting wasteful old faucets, toilets, showerheads and appliances with modern, high-efficiency fixtures. One of the most innovative and effective water saving tools for indoors is the dual flush toilet, which saves an estimated 4,000 gallons of water per year.

Think of the possibilities if all Arizona residents took a few steps to do their part in saving energy and water!