It may feel like we don’t see the sun much in the Pacific NW, but Washington is a surprisingly good zone for solar power. Solar electric panels or solar water heaters are both viable options with state and federal incentives. If you still haven’t visited carboncounter.org to see how much CO2your energy usage creates, take a moment to calculate it now. If you think sunny days are wonderful now, imagine if the rays were also generating power for your home.
If you haven’t joined a green energy program, you can start small to show your support for renewable energy projects such as wind farms. Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light customers can start at just $4 a month. Similar programs exist for customers of Snohomish PUD, and Tacoma Power. Purchasing renewable energy to offset even a small part of your monthly usage will support future renewable projects and encourage others to do the same. 

Go Natural
An all-natural option is a properly placed tree, which can reduce heating costs by shielding wind and can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50%. See the Arbor Day tree guide for where to install trees.

Solar Power
Going solar may be easier than you think. For step-by-step instructions on how much a solar electric system will cost (it could be as little as a hot tub) and to find contractors see the Northwest Solar Center. Two solar options are thermal/solar water (which includes radiant floor heating) and photovoltaic/solar electric. Federal and state incentives are available for both types, and Seattle City Light offers consumer generation power programs that allow customers to sell the city additional power generated from solar electric panels with no additional fees for tests or certifications.

The Renewable Northwest Project has an informative site that explains the technology, cost, lifetime, and more for wind, geothermal, solar, and wave energy. You can find incentives there, or through the Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy. Take an online tour of Washington homes and businesses using solar energy through Solar Washington, or find resources through The Northwest Solar Center.