The dream of an energy-efficient home can come with a daunting price tag. A new kitchen outfitted with the latest energy-saving technology, when coupled with new foam insulation and a high-efficiency air conditioner, all powered through solar panels on the roof, can scare away even the heftiest wallets.

But that dream is not the only way to make a dent in the monthly power bill and go green. Little things such as changing light bulbs or replacing a thermostat can make a significant difference when it's time to pay the bills, and power companies have programs to help low-income customers make improvements for low or no cost.

Technology has evolved to the point where a large initial investment is not necessary to join the fight to save energy, and payoff times can be much quicker. However, it is up to consumers to realize they can have their cake and eat it, too.

Chester and Joan Martindale said that weatherizing their Paris home would have been impossible without help from a program to help low-income residents provided by Oncor Electric Delivery. The retired couple live mostly on Social Security in a house that they have owned since the late '70s. In the summer, Mr. Martindale, 72, said, the energy bill would reach $600 a month.

"We have griped about the high cost of electricity, but we figured there was nothing we could do about it," he said.

Photos by CHERYL DIAZ MEYER/DMN

Customers Erin Levy (left) and Kristin Vannort inspect the Toto bidet at Current Energy in Dallas. The bidet is a water- saving dual-flush toilet that can use either 0.9 or 1.9 gallons of water in a flush and offers paperless personal cleansing.

After learning about the weatherization program offered through Oncor, which would seal the leaks in their air vents and replace their incandescent bulbs with energy-saving compact fluorescent ones at no cost to the couple, they jumped on it.

Even though the improvements were made just in May, the Martindales said they've already seen their bill decrease from May to June. They said they were told to expect 15 to 20 percent savings, on average.

Andrew Bond, assistant manager of Current Energy, a store on Knox Street dedicated to energy efficiency, said he would have to think twice about some of the larger, more significant energy-efficiency initiatives.

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Oncor Energy Delivery helped Chester and Joan Martindale weatherize their Paris home. Replacing their light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs was a low-cost move.

"If my air conditioning broke, it would be a financial challenge," said the 30-year-old from Dallas. "I can't promise that I would get the highest-efficiency air conditioner that would pay off in 10 years."

But he said price tags on the big-ticket items don't stop him from investing in energy efficiency.

And he's not alone. The wide array of compact fluorescent bulbs – one of the cheapest ways to conserve – is among the store's best-sellers.

Compact fluorescent light bulbs use 75 percent less energy and last 10 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, said Maria Vargas, spokeswoman for the federal government's Energy Star program. Ms. Vargas said that lighting represents 20 percent of an average home's electricity bill, and 10 percent of a home's energy bill when it also uses natural gas.

And the bulbs are cheaper than they used to be. They can be found for less than $20 for a 12 pack.

That's why her advice for people looking to cheaply save energy is: "Go change the five most frequently used light bulbs in your home."

Ms. Vargas also said people overlook caulking and basic weatherizing.

"The other one that catches people by surprise is pipes and wires that lead into a house, and if you add all of those together, it's the equivalent of leaving a window open," she said, adding, "those aren't particularly sexy" ways to conserve.

Dale Crawford of Current Energy explains how a radiant barrier works to customer Dale Shankle (left) while he shops for more energy- and water-efficient ways to build a house.

Derrick Richardson, a leader with the ACORN, a nonprofit organization whose mission includes helping low-to-moderate-income families and senior citizens find ways to lower their utility bills, said that the people he deals with would buy energy-saving appliances if they were more affordable.

He said families that can't afford to invest in the appliances are the most vulnerable to high utility bills.

And even though there are programs out there to help low-to-moderate-income families cope, Mr. Richardson said it is hard to get the word out.

"Education letting them know that these programs are out there has not been on the forefront," Mr. Richardson said.

But Ms. Vargas stressed that two of the core tenets of the Energy Star philosophy are that the appliances can be found at a variety of price ranges and that the consumer doesn't lose anything in terms of quality.

"You don't get anything less of a clothes washer; you don't get any less light. There's new technology that allows you to do more with less energy," she said.

A quick glance at the refrigerator options on Home Depot's Web site showed the cheapest full-size Energy Star refrigerator at $529 vs. the cheapest refrigerator at $359. There were Energy Star refrigerators at almost every price level above $529, and many of them came with rebate offers.

There is a segment of the population that is investing in the pricier forms of energy conservation – baby boomers.

Bruce Rayburn, a real estate agent with the Rayburn Group, which operates primarily in Richardson, Plano and Allen, said that baby boomers are closer to living on a fixed income than their younger counterparts, but, while they are working, they still have the disposable income to spend on conservation measures that take longer to pay for themselves.

"They are more cognizant of what utility bills can impact them with, especially as they're looking towards retirement," he said.

This makes them more likely to value energy conservation, and even more likely to invest in some of the more expensive, but more effective, methods of conserving, such as adding foam insulation between walls or buying high-efficiency air conditioners.

Younger people, even ones who have the money to make the investments, often don't stay in one place long enough to reap the benefits, Mr. Rayburn said.

"We're very mobile in our jobs, either upgrading, moving jobs or changing sides of town, especially the young people," Mr. Rayburn said.

Tom "Smitty" Smith, director of Public Citizen's Texas office in Austin, said that young homeowners should think about investing in energy efficiency even if they are planning a quick move because they can recoup some costs on resale.

Mr. Rayburn said that typically, homeowners can get between 50 and 75 percent of their initial investment back on resale if they have invested in energy-saving measures.

Wayne Garcia, owner of Wayne Garcia GMAC Real Estate, which operates primarily in the M Streets area of Dallas, said that proper energy-conservation measures can add 1 to 3 percent to the resale value, which means, for a $300,000 home, energy saving can add $3,000 to $9,000.

He said that in order to get that value, homeowners must install proper insulation and a tankless water heater, among other things. These improvements tend to make more of a difference in older homes, he said.

"If you were to take an old home and redo it with the proper windows and the proper insulation ... I think that's where you see the value increase the most," Mr. Garcia said.

Mr. Smith said that a big part of the battle to get people to try to conserve is just getting them to think again about conserving. He said that energy conservation was unpopular for many years because of its perception.

"Energy efficiency got a bad name in the Carter era when everyone was encouraged to put on another sweater," he said. "Technology has now taken the place of the sweater, in terms of efficiency."

And there are programs, like the one the Martindales were able to take advantage of, to help people who can't afford the technology. They recommended the program to their neighbors, some of whom have also used it to improve their homes.

The Martindales have also taken the weatherization a step further on their own by weatherstripping doors that lead to the outside. For them, it wasn't a matter of survival, Mr. Martindale said. They would have toughed it out regardless of what happened, he said, but now they have a little more room to breathe.

"Every penny isn't earmarked," Mrs. Martindale, 68, said. "There's going to be extra cash because you've done a little bit to save on energy."

Magic number of 78: Keep the thermostat set at 78° F or higher. Each degree under 78 equals an 8 percent increase in cooling costs.

Watch those windows: Keep draperies drawn or blinds closed on the sunny side of the house to save wear and tear on your air conditioner, as well as your energy budget.

Dry naturally: Use the energy-saver switch on your dishwasher. This cuts off the heat, and the extra energy that it requires, during the drying cycle.

Tree time: If you're going to plant trees, consider placing deciduous trees on the south and west sides of your house. They leaf out in summer to help shade your home and shed their leaves to let the warmth of the sun through in winter.

Changing bulbs: Use compact fluorescent bulbs in lamps and light fixtures. They use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs, last 10 times longer and produce less heat.

Insulation, Part I: Install inexpensive foam gaskets behind electricity switch plates and outlet covers on outside walls. This is like plugging a hole the size of a brick, where cooled air can escape.

Insulation, Part II: Caulk and weatherstrip around windows and doors. A gap of just ¼ inch around a door or window can let in as much air as a softball-size hole.

Watch those windows, Part II: Solar screens or window film on the south and west sides of your home will reduce heat from the sun that heats up your house and overworks your air conditioner.

All magic numbers: Install a programmable thermostat. These cost as little as $30 and allow you to stop cooling or heating your house when no one is around.

SOURCE: TXU Corp.