Mary Milam’s Yard

An Award-Winning Green Garden

Sunny days like today make me want to install some solar panels and soak up the sun. So, I perused the Austin Energy website to find out more about their Solar Rebate Program. I found out that the first step is being approved as a potential rebate recipient, so I signed us up for a survey. Someone will come out and look at our roof and ideally tell us that we qualify so that we may move on to the next step: find a PV dealer and have them give us an estimate.
I’m still not sure if solar is the most economical solution, but I’d love to give it a go. I’m seeing more and more panels go up in our hood. If you’re a neighbor, won’t you comment on your solar system? Did you like your dealer? Did you get a rebate? Any regrets or inspiration to share?
For those of you locals who really want to be more efficient, I am constantly told that it is best to improve your home before sinking money into PV panels. Good news: Austin Energy offers rebates for other stuff too, like replacing your old air conditioner or heater, adding insulation, fixing leaky ducts, and weatherizing your windows.
Maybe you want to add on to your home, or improve the architecture. Austin has a great Green Builder website chock full of informative goodies, includign the names and numbers of local green builders and architects.
Of course, I couldn’t help it–I popped over to the Waterwise Landscape Program page. Did you know that you can get rebates for plants, rainbarrels, even soil? And toilets. Who can forget toilets?
Oh, and while I’m at it: the next rainbarrel sale (75 gallons each, $60 per barrel) is APRIL 22 at the SUSTAINABLE SHOPPER’S BALL at the Tony Berger Center off 290.