SAN DIEGO -- Solar panels, variable speed pool pumps and energy star appliances were installed into a home built in 1970.

"We're looking to get 50 percent energy savings or more out of this house," a representative of SDG&E said.

SDG&E went all out installing cost effective energy saving products into the home to show other homeowners what they can do to help the environment.

“I was wondering how I could get SDG&E to spend $100,000 to upgrade my house,” said Mike Evans.

Evans took the tour of the home with hundreds of others, interested in seeing what might work for them.

"We'll probably implement the tankless water system," Evans told 10News.

He is a believer and is committed to being environmentally responsible.

"This is where we could be making a difference in our community and reducing our energy consumption," Evans added.

Saving energy can be as simple and inexpensive as using power strips and compact fluorescent bulbs or it could mean a $20,000 heating and air conditioning unit.

"You want to have the most efficient condenser possible, air conditioning system possible, because that's one of the biggest bills," Tom Barrett, Vice President of RHA said.

But for less than a thousand dollars you can install a whole house fan.

"It's a ventilation system, designed to exhaust warm air from inside the house & pull cool air from outside into the house," Barrett said.

High-efficiency windows can also reduce energy bills.

“It reflects the infrared energy from the sun, or from inside your house, it reflects the energy back to the inside of your house," said Greg Pearson of JELD-WEN.

Making it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

"OK the track lights are LED lighting, light emitting diodes, very efficient about 2 1/2, 3 watts apiece," Pearson said.

Lighting can make up to 30 percent of your electric bill. Having the sunlight your home is another idea.

"Solar tubes, you pop a hole in the roof, hole in the ceiling and hook the duct together between the top and the bottom and you have basically free lighting," Pearson added.

Everyone likes free, but if you invest in efficiency, your savings long term will add up.