BOSTON -- Some local residents are saving big money with a program designed to reduce energy consumption while finding alternative, renewable energy sources.

NewsCenter 5's David Brown reported that the Marshfield Energy Challenge is saving consumers money and is helping the environment.

VIDEO: Town, NSTAR Join Forces To Conserve

The bright summer sun has turned into hot savings for the Mullen family of Marshfield. They've always been energy conscious and hang their clothes out to dry instead of using the dryer. But with the recent installation of 14 solar panels, the savings is in high gear.

"We generally pay about $150 a month and we are expecting to cut a third off of that," Peter Mullen said.

The savings and the panels come from a unique utility plan energized by NSTAR. The utility company noticed Marshfield's growth and increased energy needs and came up with a novel approach to deal with the demand.

"Instead of the traditional solution of building additional capacity, we said why not address it by reducing the demand via energy efficiency demand response and through renewable energy," said Penni Conner, of NSTAR.

The utility company will offer free energy audits to 1,200 homes. They'll install smart thermostats to control use, but they're also targeting homes and businesses to take the giant step by installing solar panels.

The 14 panels cost about $23,000. Through tax credits and rebates, the panels cost the Mullens $7,000.

"It's really our hope that we can be in a sense like pioneers, and really get more people interested and thus, begin to reduce the cost even further of panels and make this a much more viable thing across the whole town," Mullen said.

So far, 12 families have signed up for the program. The goal is 30 families. The town aims to save 2 million watts of energy.

The Mullens said they notice savings by simply looking at their electric meter.

"And the really fun thing to do is to come out here in the middle of the day and actually watch the meter go in reverse," Nancy Mullen said.