Renewable Energy

Install PV solar.
Buy electricity on a green tariff.
Use smart load management to maximize renewable energy consumption.

1. Install Solar

Rooftop solar is a straightforward method to cut your energy bill and produce your own renewable electricity. If you own your home, have enough roof space, and have already undertaken energy efficiency measures, then solar might be the right option for you. According to Energy Sage’s latest solar estimates, a typical home in California can save from $10,000 to $30,000 over 20 years by installing solar.

Solar Resources:

Google’s Project Sunroof will help you estimate the solar potential of your home.
Go Solar California provides resources and a five step process for finding an installer, getting rebates, and installing solar.
Make sure to get quotes from multiple installers, so that you get the best price on your new solar system. Websites like Energy Sage solicit and aggregate solar quotes for you based on information about your home.
There are a number of rebates and incentives available for installing solar. Energy Sage has a good explanation of the investment tax credit (ITC) for solar, your utility may have additional rebates, and innovative financing offerings such as Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing, Power Purchase Agreements (PPA), and traditional solar loans, make installing solar a possibility for all.

Installing PV panels can reduce the carbon footprint of an average household by up to 15,000 pounds (7.5 tons) of CO2e annually. Use the Household Carbon Footprint Calculator to find out what other actions can save money and lower your carbon footprint.

2. Buy Green Electricity

Can’t install solar on your roof? Look at your current utility – many utilities offer a 100% renewable tariff for a monthly fee.

Purchasing “green” electricity can reduce the carbon footprint of an average household by up to 15,000 pounds (7.5 tons) of CO2e annually. Use the Household Carbon Footprint Calculator to find out what other actions can save money and lower your carbon footprint.

3. Smart Load Management

Not all electricity is the same; different types of renewable electricity production function best at different times of day. Shifting energy intensive activities to off-peak times can reduce your carbon footprint and save you money on your bill, without impacting your quality of life. Look below to find out what you can do to shift your energy use to cheaper (and more renewable) times of the day.

New Time of Use rates better align the carbon intensity of electricity and electricity demand with price, allowing end-users to reduce their carbon footprint and their bill. Simple changes, like plugging in phones and running the dishwasher at night, as well as installing smart energy management devices, such as timers, connected appliances, and apps, let consumers save money while lowering carbon emissions!

TOU rates change throughout the day, as does the proportion of clean energy being provided.

_{Graphic: Time of Use rates and relationship to clean energy.}


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