I used to work for a renewable energy contractor. We would get calls from people all the time who wanted to install solar panels, solar thermal panels, wind turbines, and even geothermal systems. The very first questions we asked were "What is your current lighting system?" "Your current heating system?" "The amount of insulation in the home?" It was around this point that they would interrupt us and ask what any of this has to do with the shiny new solar panels they want on the roof.

Solar panels are cool: they are the slick blue pimps of the renewable energy world. The concept is just so simple: shine sun on panel, get electricity. They have no moving parts, work forever (25-50+ years) and are pretty easy to put up. What isn’t so sexy is making sure your walls have the proper amount of insulation, and that you replace all your old-fashioned light bulbs with CFL’s, and that your washer is not an energy hog.

People get so caught up in the image of “free” power from the sun or the wind, that they forget that the cheapest energy is the energy you don’t buy. For every dollar you spend on home efficiency you will take three to five dollars off the cost of your renewable energy system. It is that simple. Use less energy; buy fewer solar panels to supply that energy.

So what should you do to get your house into fighting shape? Here is a quick check list of things you should have done before you even think about installing a renewable energy system on your home. In fact, these steps will save you money even if you don’t intend to install a renewable energy system on your home.

Lighting and appliances: Make sure you are using the most efficient lighting you can. That most often means compact fluorescent and perhaps LED lighting. You can replace the old incandescent lights without waiting for them to burn out and still realize a significant savings. With large appliances like washers, dryers, refrigerators, water heaters, sump pumps, etc., most people wait until the old one breaks. However, when it comes time to buy that new stove, spending 100 extra dollars to get the energy efficient one will save you far more over the lifetime of the product.

Insulation and weather sealing: You want your home to be as sealed as possible against both the cold and the heat. This means weather sealing windows and doors, or even replacing them if you have the money to more insulated ones. Get the attic re-insulated (or insulated), seal up the foundation and basement, and maybe even blow insulation into the walls. In order to determine what kind of work you need, I recommend that you get an energy audit. Many utilities or municipalities offer then for free or for a low fee. Even if you have to pay for one, it is money well-spent. You’ll want to know if your home has no insulation on one whole side because it was built 100 years ago, and whoever built the house ran out of money for insulation halfway though the job. This will also make winter nights much more comfortable.

Roofing: If properly installed, a solar system will last at least 25 years. How old is your roof? If your roof is in need of new shingles, or needs other repair, there is no point in putting a solar system on the roof that is going to need to be removed in five years to re-shingle. It is much cheaper to install the solar system while you install the new shingles, than to do the two separately

Home owner’s associations and neighbors: Do you live in a historic district? What is your HOA’s policy on wind turbines? Before you spend your money on the solar panels, invest in a little research and neighborly friendliness. Many historic districts were made in the 70’s during the first oil crisis, and many have bylaws dealing with renewable energy prompted by that crisis. Some only apply if your home is visible from the street. Some require a permit. Research is usually a lot cheaper than fines, or having to take down the system. Bring a pitcher of lemonade over to the neighbor’s house and have a discussion with them about your plans for a solar panels system on the roof. Bring some pictures of other such installations. Who knows, you might even have a good time. This step is especially important if you plan on installing a wind turbine, or if your neighbors trees shade your roof. It is often possible to trim a tree without cutting it down in order to free up a little sunshine for your roof; a skilled arborist can handle this problem. Spending the time and energy talking with your neighbors will not only make you some friends, it will save you a lot of hassle, headaches, and money in the long run.

Heating system: The one thing I heard more than any other was “I want to get solar panels, and then use electrical heating to heat my home.” This seems so logical: solar panels make electricity, use the electricity to heat your home… a match made in heaven. It is true that electrical heat is very efficient, meaning that of all the electricity that you feed into the system, a very large portion of it goes towards actually heating your home. The only problem is that a very large amount of electricity has to go into the system. We are trying to get the home to use as little energy as possible. Electric heat is not the way to go. That goes for electric water heaters as well. If money was no object, I would suggest you switch to radiant floor solar thermal heating. Not only will the bathroom floor be nice and warm in the middle of winter, but your cats will love it as well. If you can’t go with radiant floor, gas heat is the second best. One thing for sure: you want to have your heating system as efficient as money and resources will allow.

Once you have tackled all of these issues, THEN you are ready to call up your handy renewable energy installer and get those super-cool solar panels. Spending a significant amount of money on home efficiency improvements will radically reduce the size (number of solar panels, size of wind turbine etc) and therefore the cost of your renewable energy system. It will also lower your monthly bills, making the payback time on your investment that much quicker.