Home Energy Efficiency in Phoenix

Making Your Home Comfortable and Efficient

Here are some stats on the Phoenix area that will come in handy when improving your home's energy efficiency.

• The average highs in June through September are 99 degrees or hotter. On the other side of the calendar, the average lows in December and January are in the 40's. With such extreme temperatures, the need for a well insulated and air sealed home with efficient HVAC equipment is very important.
• The average Phoenix area resident pays around $4 more per thousand cubic feet of natural gas than the national average with utilities like Arizona Public Service charging around $15 per thousand cubic feet.
• Arizona exports much of its electricity to California, and the electricity it keeps instate is relatively cheap at around $0.09/kilowatt-hour, approximately one cent less than the national average.
• The Phoenix area has excellent solar potential! Some areas receive as much as eight kWh per meter squared of solar radiation daily.

Home Energy Audits in Phoenix

Ready to start making your home more efficient but not sure where to start? An in-home energy audit is a great first step toward a more comfortable and affordable home. The audit will comprehensively test your home to identify the areas of your home that are in need of an upgrade.

Energy audits in the Phoenix area typically cost a few hundred dollars, but Arizona Public Service customers can take advantage of a $99 audit, which will easily pay itself off in the short term.

If you'd like to find out — for free and within minutes — whether your home is a good candidate for an energy audit and for upgrades, take our online home energy report. We'll give you a home energy score and estimate your savings potential.

Home Energy Upgrades in Phoenix

Here are some commonly recommended upgrades for hot, dry climates like Phoenix's.

• Attic Insulation: For homes with only a few inches of attic insulation, ENERGY STAR recommends adding R25 to R38 rated insulation to the already existing layer. This will help to keep the sun's hot rays from boring down into your home.
• Duct Sealing: By sealing up any leaks in your ductwork, you can prevent the air you pay to heat and cool from escaping into your attic or basement. This measure can also help keep your heating system from picking up unwanted dust and dirt and blowing it into your living space.
• Solar Water Heaters: Heating water typically accounts for about 12 percent of a home's energy use. By using a solar water heater to preheat the water that goes through your traditional water heater, you can save a lot of money for years to come.
• Solar Panels: Ready to eliminate your electricity bills? If your home is already really efficient, you may be ready to generate power for your home by installing solar panels on your roof. Phoenix's climate offers an ideal setting for this type of power generation.

Energy Rebates and Tax Credits in Phoenix

Home Efficiency Upgrades: Besides offering a $99 home energy audit to get you started, Arizona Public Service offers rebates on energy-efficient heating and cooling appliances, as well as duct repairs. Southwest Gas Corporation offers rebates on high-efficiency gas hot water heaters, programmable thermostats and low-flow showerheads. And SRP offers several rebates on energy-efficient appliances, HVAC checkups and duct repairs.

Renewable Energy Systems: Arizona Public Service, SRP and Arizona state offer rebates on solar panels based on system capacity. Arizona also offers an income tax credit equal to 25 percent up to $1,000 of the cost of a solar or wind energy system. The federal government also offers a tax credit for renewable energy systems equal to 30 percent of the system's cost. Finally, SRP offers a production incentive for solar hot water heaters, which are also eligible for a state sales tax exemption and the state and federal tax credits.

Check out all energy rebates and tax credits in Phoenix.

Home Energy Resources from EnergySavvy

1. Home Energy Report: How efficient is your home? Find out how to improve your home's efficiency and comfort, without spending tons of money, with EnergySavvy's free online home energy report.
2. Energy Rebate and Tax Credit Directory: EnergySavvy's guide to energy rebates and tax credits can help you find all the energy tax credits and rebates that are available locally for you.
3. Energy Contractors: If you've got a project in mind to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable and you'd like to talk with an energy expert about it, we can help. We focus on the relatively small group of contractors nationwide who really understand home energy auditing and energy retrofits.
4. Educational Content: Home energy efficiency is complicated stuff. It's not just as simple as laying some insulation in the attic. We've put together a library of easy-to-read topics that cover the basics of energy efficiency. And if you have a question about anything, you can ask one of our energy experts using our "Ask an Expert" feature.

Last Updated: May 2010

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