• Arizona Goes Solar:  The Arizona Corporation Commission launched the Arizona Goes Solar website as a one-stop-shop for homeowners and business owners who are interested in learning more about going solar (solar panels, or solar water heaters).  The website includes utility rebate information, state and federal incentives, and a solar mapping function that identifies the number of solar installations and the total energy produced from those installations in a given zip code.  www.arizonagoessolar.org

• Solar Contractors: For a list of solar contractors, visit the Arizona Solar Energy Industries  Association or the Arizona Solar Center . 

• Solar Lease:  An affordable alternative to purchasing a solar pv system is a solar lease.  Solar lease payments are often the same or less than monthly energy savings, resulting in no added cost or even cost savings to the homeowner. Solar City | CitizenRE | SunRun

• Find out where the greatest opportunities for energy savings exist in your home by conducting a Home Energy Audit.  You can perform a basic energy audit yourself or you can have a professional perform a more detailed energy audit.
• Take advantage of Federal Tax Credits when making energy improvements to your home.

Insulation

In most homes, over 50% of energy use goes toward heating and cooling[1]. Enhanced insulation is an important first step in reducing demand for energy to heat and cool interior spaces.

• Weatherize your home by sealing air leaks to stop drafts.
• Windows are the major source of summer heat gain. Older, single-pane windows in particular allow large quantities of heat to enter the home. Replace single-pane windows with double or triple paned windows with low-e coating. Click here for information on various window types.
• Ensure that your home has adequate roof and wall insulation. Roof insulation should be R-30 or higher and wall insulation should be R-19 or higher. 
• When installing new insulation, look for products made from recycled materials. 
• Older block homes can have foam insulation sprayed into walls to increase insulation.

• Replace older, energy-inefficient HVAC units with new, energy-efficient units.   | SRP Rebate
• Keep a clean filter in the HVAC unit to ensure optimal performance. 
• Have a cooling system checkup before summer.  SRP customers can have their systems inspected and cleaned for $59.95.

Lighting

Lighting accounts for approximately 15% of a household's energy use[2]. An energy efficient lighting strategy can save energy and money. 

• Use Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs in the most heavily used rooms.  CFLs will have longer lives when they are used in situations that do not result in the light being frequently turned on and off.
• Take advantage of natural daylighting whenever possible.
• Consider occupancy sensors that turn lights on and off as people enter and leave the room.
• When replacing light fixtures, install Energy Star qualified fixtures.

• Water heating is responsible for about 10 – 25% of a home’s energy use[3]. Efficient water heaters can greatly reduce energy demand for hot water.
• Install an energy-efficient water heater.
• Consider a demand water heater, that will only heat water when it is needed for use.
• Reducing water heating temperature by 10°F can reduce energy use by about 5%[3].
• If you heat a pool, use solar to heat the pool or use a highly efficient water heater.

• Screen or tint south, east, and west-facing windows.
• Shade south, east, and west-facing windows using overhangs, awnings, recessed windows or shade from trees. 
• Shade building entrances.
• Shade east and west facing walls.
• Awnings/ overhangs can be especially useful for south-facing windows because they will shade summer sun while still allowing winter sun to directly penetrate. Deciduous trees can be beneficial for shading east/west facing windows because they can block direct summer sun but still allow sunlight during the winter.

• When building or choosing a new home, orient the home so that a majority of the building’s surface area faces north or south.
• Avoid an over-abundance of east, west and south-facing windows.
• Shade east and west facing windows with low water use trees.
• Use light-colored paving and roofing materials. Also, utilize light-colored paint for exterior walls.

Landscaping is one of the main sources of residential water use.  Outdoor water use should be targeted first, but indoor water use can also be significantly reduced by using new technologies.  Visit the City of Chandler Water Conservation page for more tips.

• Utilize xeriscape landscaping to minimize the water used for your home’s landscaping.  If you convert turf to xeriscape landscaping, you may be eligible for a rebate (PDF) of $200 or more through the City's Water Conservation Division.  
• Utilize high efficiency irrigation equipment that automatically provides less water when rain has made watering unnecessary.  Rebates (PDF) are available through the City's Water Conservation Division.
• When using landscaping professionals to assist with landscaping improvements, look for an EPA WaterSense partner.  
• Harvest rainwater to supply water for landscaping (Check zoning and HOA regulations).
• Install low-flow fixtures (faucets, toilets, and showerheads). Fixtures installed in the early 1990s or earlier may not meet the 1992 Energy Policy Act’s (EPAct) requirements for water efficiency. Significant water savings can be achieved by replacing these older fixtures with newer fixtures that meet or exceed the 1992 requirements. In addition to saving water, low-flow fixtures can save energy by reducing water heating demands.

• Utilize high efficiency appliances that save both water and energy.  Rebates (PDF) for high efficiency clothes washers are available through the City's Water Conservation Division (rebate application (PDF) | list of eligible products (PDF)).

Indoor air pollutants can be ten times as bad as outdoor pollutants.  Efforts to enhance indoor environmental quality in your home is an important step in creating a healthy living space.

• Ensure adequate ventilation.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) are emitted from many common household materials such as paints and carpets. VOCs can cause eye and throat irritation along with other health problems. In order to improve your home’s indoor air quality, use low-VOC or no-VOC paints, coatings, adhesives, cleaners, carpets, and wood products.
• Test your home for radon and take corrective measures if radon is present. Many hardware stores have do-it-yourself radon test kits.
• Create safe, convenient, and secure storage spaces for housekeeping chemicals.
• Remove any asbestos-containing materials or adequately contain them.
• Prevent the growth of mold by controlling the moisture in your home and by quickly cleaning or replacing any materials that experienced moisture and/or mold damage.
• Utilize high-quality air filters.

• Avoid carpets, wall panels, cabinetry and other products that contain formaldehyde.