Conserving on a budget

But transforming your house into a more efficient, energy-saving machine can cost a pretty penny up front.

Installing solar panels or drilling a geothermal pump will set you back tens of thousands of dollars, and it might take years to recoup that cost, especially since CPS Energy has put its solar rebate program on hold.

But if you have a few thousand dollars lying around, say from the $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit or maybe an energy-efficient mortgage, there are some relatively low-cost measures you can take to conserve energy and reduce your expenses heading into the sweltering summer months.

“Let's face it, all the environmentalists are going to be doing this even if they don't see the dollar signs,” said Stephen Colley, architect and program coordinator for Build San Antonio Green. “What we have to do is convince everybody else that what you're doing is going to save you money.”

And now you can even get a tax credit of 30 percent (up to $1,500) of the cost of new energy-efficient items, such as air conditioners, insulation, water heaters, windows and doors, and their installation in some cases.

“Tightening the house to reduce air leakage by adding insulation, fixing ducts, and installing a more efficient heating and air conditioning system can help save on energy bills today while also reducing next year's tax bill,” said Greg Miedema, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders Remodeling group.

Start small

“The easiest thing off the block is replacing all your light bulbs,” Colley said.

You can save $17 in a year by converting just five incandescent light bulbs to the compact fluorescent bulbs, or $226 over the lifetime of the CFL bulbs, Home Depot estimates.