New technological advances have disrupted just about every seemingly unshakable industry. Companies like Skype replaced the need to purchase long distance calling cards; Netflix replaced physical DVD rentals, and ebooks have completely altered the entire book publishing landscape. The combination of new technology and sustainability efforts are now doing the same for many utility companies.

According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, the solar industry is on a continued path for growth:

• – The U.S. now has over 8,500 MW of cumulative installed solar electric capacity, enough to power more than 1.3 million average American homes.
• – The residential market continues to show consistent, incremental growth. Residential installations grew 53% in Q1 2013 over the same quarter last year.
• – Utility installations more than doubled year-over-year as 318 MW came online in the first quarter of 2013.

Disruption happened within the solar industry itself. Companies such as SunPower now allow buyers to own the solar panels on their homes instead of leasing them. This will attract more homeowners who have thought about installing solar panels on their homes, but were turned away by the leasing programs. So what does this mean for home and business owners like you? It means you are gaining more independence and control on where you buy your energy. Here are three sustainability best practices you can take to save more money and be more sustainable with new clean energy innovations.

1) Change your thermostat

Your thermostat accounts for about half of your energy bill; that’s as much as the refrigerator, lighting, TVs, stereos and computers combined. The problem lies in the fact that a lot of that energy is wasted heating and cooling an empty home. The Nest thermostat allows you to control temperature through your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Change the temperature, view and adjust your schedule or settings, and see exactly how much energy you’re using – and saving.

2) Request a solar panel quote

Always been curious about solar panels? Request a quote from solar energy solutions such as Luminalt. They can provide you a quote for anywhere you want solar panels installed, whether you would like them on a home, business, community building or multi-family residence. They also offer various ways to purchasw the units through secured and unsecured loans, SunPower leases or through a Federal Tax Credit Loan. Often you can pay off your system in just five to seven years, leaving you with free, clean energy for the next 25 to 30 years. And unlike most investments, your returns come tax-free.

3) Keep up with green and clean technology news

Independent homeowners are not the only ones concerned about the rising prices charged by utility companies. Tech giant Google is asking for more options when it comes to energy sources. It’s important to keep up with the progress in cleantech, as it can set an example for utility companies on giving more options to homeowners and small business owners on where they get their energy. Innovations with cleantech options, gadgets, and government regulations can greatly affect which route you should take in choosing how to solve your energy sources.

What steps is your company taking to become greener? Have you installed solar panels or maybe just energy efficient lighting? Maybe you’ve obtained some new sustainability certifications?  Share your story with us, and we’ll publish it in our next monthly newsletter. Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and add us on LinkedIn for the latest news on clean energy.