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Outfitting your home or business with renewable energy isn’t just environmentally responsible, it can prove a smart financial move, too. 

One of the best ways to maximize this benefit is to lean into energy efficiency prior to installing your renewable project—but how exactly can you do that, and is it really that important?

What does energy efficiency really look like? 

If you’re considering diving into a renewable energy project, you’re probably looking forward to potentially cutting back on the amount of energy you use. Did you know that there are steps you can take to boost your energy efficiency prior to the actual project, though? 

Many of these steps are the sort of common-sense measures you’ve probably been meaning to complete for a while, and others are a bit of an investment. They include things like:

• Switching to LED light bulbs
• Unplugging electronics when they’re not in use
• Ensuring that your home is properly sealed and insulated
• Replacing old windows
• Investing in energy efficient appliances

Why invest in efficiency?

You might be wondering why you should bother sinking money into energy efficiency when you’re already funding a renewable energy project, so consider this:

Every dollar you spend on energy efficiency saves $3-$5 on your renewable energy project.

That’s because the development or installation company will be able to design a smaller system to meet your needs if you’re already consuming less energy.

Of course, in order to reap those savings, you’ll have to complete your energy efficiency upgrades prior to installing your renewable energy project. 

So, the question that inevitably follows is, “what if I didn’t complete upgrades before my renewable energy project?” 

That’s okay! Performing these upgrades after your system has already been installed just means that your system will offset a greater amount of your energy usage. The only benefit you’re missing out on in this case is the savings associated with a smaller project. 

Basically, perform as many energy efficiency upgrades as possible prior to completing your renewable energy project, but don’t fret if you missed the window—you can always complete them after the fact. 

If you need guidance on which upgrades are right for you, or have further questions about energy efficiency, feel free to get in touch!