Keeping the Energy Bill Cool

Here’s a newsflash for you: it’s HOT.

Especially back home in Arizona.  You know, the surface of the sun?

I can’t say I’m missing it right now.

Sorry, honey.

Oh, you’re reading that right.  Excessive heat at 8pm.

Have you ever paid a $632 electricity bill?  I have.  And that’s NOT fun.

And that’s NOT fun.

I love ya, Mr. Golden Sun, but yo, you are brutal during the Arizona summers!

One way I’m trying to keep things chill at home is pretty ingenious if I do say so myself.

I left.

That’s right: as most of you can tell, I’ve been on the road most of June.  One benefit to this tactic is the ability to leave the house set a little warmer during the day than we normally would.

Unfortunately, I don’t think I can pull this off for much longer.  It’s obviously a temporary solution and I’ll have to come home sometime soon and face the thermometer.

Since we’ve arrived in Arizona I’ve become obsessed with the sun.  It’s always bright, always strong, and always beautiful.

And it’s powerful.  Something that we shouldn’t overlook when considering all our electric bill options.

Like many of my neighbors and local businesses, I’m thinking about a solar lease.  You can see the panels on my neighbors roof in that picture above.

One option in Arizona is through Sunrun.  I’m learning more about how solar energy works and more importantly what my financial options are with solar panels.

Most people choose to lease the equipment (as little as $0 down to get solar panels) rather than buy upfront due to the initial costs.

I like $0 out of pocket.

I’m still in the research phase and found there are a lot of misconceptions about solar energy.

What I know is this:

• Sunrun customers save an average of 20% on their electricity costs.*
• Electricity from Sunrun is more affordable than electricity from your utility. You can spend your savings on your retirement, college tuition, or a dream vacation (hello… Disney Cruise!).
• Sunrun invented solar service, a way to get solar on your roof without the high upfront cost and hassle of ownership.
• Sunrun installs, insures, monitors and maintains a solar system that is designed specifically for you and your home. You just pay a low, locked-in rate for the electricity that the panels produce.
• Sunrun monitors your solar system’s production remotely, so you have peace of mind.

Bottomline, a solar lease through Sunrun could provide an environmentally friendly approach to saving money for my family.  That’s something I like to hear.

Until I’m ready to make a move to solar, I’m making friends with this baby.

One of the easiest ways to save money on your electric bills: program your thermostat, STAT!

I’m geeking out a bit about the Nest Thermostat that Sunrun is giving away right now on Facebook.  It can be controlled from my PHONE and can set itself.

Cool! (Get it?)

You can enter to win a Nest Thermostat HERE for your own home.

Do you use solar power at your home?  What are your thoughts about purchasing or leasing panels?

*Actual savings will vary. See http://clvr.li/1dwHGKc for details.

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.