Here’s the 4-step process MyDomino recommends to help you go solar, “ditch fossil fuels, and save money at the same time.”

1) Compare solar installers.

When you buy any appliance for your home, what do you do? Talk to your neighbors and friends about what they bought? Compare reviews on Consumer Reports or other websites? Go shopping and look at different models and brands yourself?

Those are all good – but they’re also very time consuming, and they may not give you the nuts-and-bolts comparisons you really need.

What I like about MyDomino is that they’ve already vetted many installers and can help you find one that best meets your needs. But the company will help you evaluate any proposal you get from a solar company, whether they’re a MyDomino partner or not.

They’ll also tell you honestly if solar might not be your best option.

2) Compare equipment and services.

As it turns out, the big decision may not concern the kind of solar panels you get.

What’s more important is to focus on something called an inverter.

That’s the device that converts the sun’s rays into power your home can use.

There are three kinds of inverters:

⇒String inverters have traditionally been the cheapest, but prices are now leveling out. These are not as shade-tolerant and don’t let you monitor each panel’s performance, so they’re best if your roof has full sun all day.

⇒Microinverters are a good option if you have any shading. If one or two panels are shaded at any time, the rest of your panels will still keep producing. Most microinverters allow panel-level monitoring.

⇒Optimizers function a lot like microinverters and are sometimes cheaper.

MyDomino can help you figure out what your best choice is for the system you’re getting.

3) Compare cost proposals.

With any major household expense, you always want to compare proposed costs so you know how much money you need to budget to get the best service you can afford.

When buying solar panels, it can be confusing.

What will they cost over what period of time?

What type of maintenance, warranty, and/or monitoring is included with the solar installation?

MyDomino can be particularly helpful in clarifying the differences in the proposals you receive. They can also advise you on what tradeoffs, if any, make the most sense. 

4) Compare financing, and figure out tax credits.

Should you buy your system outright, lease it, take out a loan, or get a power purchase agreement (PPA)?

How can you take advantage of the many county, state and federal financing programs available to help people install solar energy?

Once you know what kind of system you need and who you want to install it, MyDomino can help you figure out how to pay for it.

NOTHING TO LOSE! 

To begin, visit the MyDomino website, click “Get Started,” and fill out your information.

They’ll send you a link to a dashboard that’s set up specifically for you.

Once you set up your free account and complete a short questionnaire about how much energy your home already uses, you’ll get an email from your personal concierge (here’s a picture of the Domino team).

My concierge is named Laura, and as soon as I submitted my form, I got a message from her inviting me to set up a time to chat with her about my home’s energy needs.

When we talked, I explained that my home was probably too shady for solar panels, but I was curious about what else I could do to save energy.

I’ve already changed out my lightbulbs to CFLs and LEDs, installed energy-efficient home appliances and a new water heater, insulated my windows and installed a programmable thermostat. Plus, I keep my house very cool in the winter, and don’t overcool it in the summer.

Laura still had some good suggestions for me (see below):

I drive a hybrid car, but she suggested I try hypermiling and pump up my tires to use even less gas.

She recommended I increase the amount of insulation in my attic, walls and crawl spaces, which will cut down on how much gas and electricity I use.

She also suggested I consider replacing my programmable thermostat with a “smart” one, which can help save even more energy.

The total actions she and MyDomino suggested would save me $15,921 in energy costs over 30 years. That’s a good incentive to take the next steps!

IT’S FREE!!

Signing up for more information is free and does not obligate you to continue to work with MyDomino or to buy anything.

It’s simply a way to help you explore your options. It’s one of those “nothing to lose” deals.

Please check them out! MyDomino’s inspiring vision is to create 1 billion actions towards a clean energy future. I bet they can help you do at least a couple of things that will make you feel good about your own future – and save you some money, too.

The post How to Choose the Best Solar System for Your Home appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Insulate to Save Money, Stop Climate Change

Insulation is probably the single most cost-effective action you can take to save energy at home. We lose substantial energy through leaky lofts and attics, crawl spaces and basements, thin insulation in wall cavities, and in cracks and gaps around doors and windows. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that you can save as much as 50 percent on your energy bills by insulating. In the UK, it may amount to over a hundred pounds each year. Though insulating may require an upfront investment, many government incentive schemes mean that it is often possible to insulate your home at discounted rates or for free. In the U.S., check with your local electricity and gas providers to get a sense of the subsidies they offer to encourage homeowners to insulate. Have a look at the Npower site to find out more about how this works in the UK and how to apply.

Add Solar Panels

An increasing number of homeowners are interested in adding solar panels to their property as a way to wean themselves completely off the fossil fuels that cause climate change, as well as air pollution. Some companies ask you to purchase the panels upfront, but you can offset the cost by reaping federal and state tax benefits. The length of time it takes for these panels to pay for your initial investment varies due to a number of factors but is generally seen as being around 12 years or so. In other words, throughout those years, you’ll be saving money you’d otherwise be spending on a utility bill. The advantage is that, when you pay a normal utility bill, that’s it. You just keep paying over and over, year after year. When it comes to solar collectors, at the end of 12 years (or whatever the period of time is), you own the panels and continue to save money will having constant access to clean, green and free energy. From a financial point of view, one of the most interesting aspects of adding solar panels is that you can probably sell any energy you don’t use back to the grid.

Change to LED Light Bulbs

If you want the most incredibly simple way of spending less and giving the planet a break then just change your light bulbs. One ENERGY STAR- certified LED light bulb may last 25,000 hours, use 75% less energy than a standard bulb, and save over $60 during the life of that bulb – even acknowledging that LEDs are slightly more expensive than incandescents.

Automate Your Energy Savings

Take advantage of technology like programmable thermostats, power strips, and motion sensors to automate your energy savings. You can program your thermostat to turn the heat down when you go to sleep or work, and up when you’re heading home. The Nest Thermostat is particularly helpful. Power strips make it easy to turn off your electronics so they don’t continue to draw power from the grid, which they normally do, even when you’re not using them. Motion sensors will turn lights on when you enter a room and off shortly after you leave it. All these devices will save you energy and money, and they’re readily available online and in most hardware stores.

The post Save Energy, Stop Climate Change, Save Money appeared first on Big Green Purse.