Today's Discussion  - David Knott
I run a small shop out of my house in Mesa.  It is just me and one other person right now.  I primarily do commercial work but can do residential as well.  I come from a family of electricians.  Out of high school I went into the US Navy for 6-years.  I lived in Alaska for a span of 15 years.  The conditions there were extremely harsh.  I came back here and started Yukon Electric.  I have seen high and lows in the business.  But I stay dedicated. 

There are a lot of things you can do around your house to help conserve energy.  I am a huge proponent of insulation.  It is cost effective and you can do it yourself.  The materials are easy to find and inexpensive.  It doesn't take a lot of technical skill, you just need to get up there and do it.  Once it is in, it is virtually maintenance free.  It should be installed before trying any other green option.

The second option is an energy controller.  This is an electrical device that bolts into the side of your energy panel that makes your energy run more efficiently.  This has been around for years.  There is some controversy surrounding its use but I believe it to be politically-based.  They really do work.  They can cost $350-500 for your home and little more for a business.  They are supposed to save from 8-25%.  I installed one at my home recently and noticed an immediate benefit.  An electrical contractor should be able to install one in less than an hour. (Sandro Menasci also has experience with this device and finds it beneficial.)

How can we save on our electric bill?  Lighting is very minimal part of your bill.  Anything with motors will impact your bill.  Just lowering your AC 1-2 degrees can make a huge different.  Ceiling fans need to be turned off when you are not there and make sure they are turning the right time for the right time of year.  They give you the wind chill factor.  Timers work great.