Sustainability expert and homeowner Nick Cutsumpas — who goes by Farmer Nick — has a plethora of eco-friendly money-saving tips "for maximizing clean living all year-round."
He recently shared this knowledge with the renewable energy experts at EnergySage, as many of his tips related to his home's energy sourcing and usage.
For example, he explained, having reliable power has become increasingly relevant as he's seen more erratic and severe storms in the last several years.
Whether it's sudden floods, intense storms, or longer-lasting wildfires, many aspects of our weather systems are changing as our atmosphere grows steadily hotter. This has caused an array of issues, particularly with food production, but for homeowners, the key concern — other than structural damage — is generally maintaining an emergency power supply.
"This is a newfound concern for me, because when you're a homeowner for the first time, you realize, if something goes wrong, I can't call the landlord," Nick said.
He's prioritized his energy independence by acquiring a portable solar generator, which he can roll into the sun to charge and then use with his solar panel array.
"That sense of preparedness is really, really important, especially with the volatility and aggressiveness and intensity of these storms," he shared.
And, in fact, other than being objective experts on solar energy, EnergySage also offers several free tools for homeowners interested in potentially acquiring solar panels themselves. Their trusted network of vetted installers allows them to provide free cost estimates and quote comparisons. They even have a detailed mapping tool that breaks down average costs and available incentives on a state-by-state level, so every homeowner can save as much as possible.
Save $10,000 on solar panels without even sharing your phone number Want to go solar but not sure who to trust? EnergySage has your back with free and transparent quotes from fully vetted providers that can help you save as much as $10k on installation. To get started, just answer a few questions about your home — no phone number required. Within a day or two, EnergySage will email you the best local options for your needs, and their expert advisers can help you compare quotes and pick a winner. |
Another important thing to note is that, since many of the tax credits and incentives for solar panels and other home appliance upgrades are expiring at the end of the year, completing an installation within 2025 is the only way to be sure of receiving the 30% tax credit. EnergySage estimates that acting within that time frame could mean a cost savings difference of nearly $10,000.
Nick also explained that weatherizing the home — keeping cool air inside in summer and warm air inside in winter — goes a long way toward improving energy efficiency and, therefore, lowering energy bills. Even something as simple as keeping floors covered in rugs can help, in addition to plugging any drafts or leaks.
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$10K or more 🤑 "From an energy efficiency standpoint, just really making sure your windows and your doors have proper insulation and sealing will save so much money," he said. "I can't tell you how much money we basically blew out the window when we had windows that were not properly insulated and sealed."
And if you've acquired solar panels and weatherized your home, but you don't want to stop there, pairing your solar power with other electric appliances can drive down your utility bills to near-zero. To that end, EnergySage also has a free heat pump quotes comparison tool, which enables homeowners to find the right installer and heat pump for their specific budget and home usage.
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