My utilities bill came today

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

and I have to say that all the insulation and new windows DO work!

Last year average temp of 63 Gas usage was 37CCF
This year average temp of 57 Gas Usage was 29CCF

We should really see a difference during the much colder winter months. It is gratifying to physically "see" the difference this house project has made. As well as "feel" it in our checkbook.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Lawren,

that's great! The savings ought to cover one additional Maintenance Fee

Did you use the 'house wrap' as insulation under the siding, or did you do something more?

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

Isn't it nice to know that the improvements you made to your home not only look great, but will save you money, too.

Avery is right, more to spend on vacationing..........

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Did you use the 'house wrap' as insulation under the siding, or did you do something more?

Yes We used the one-inch Styrofoam under the siding. It does stay warmer in here.
http://www.dow.com/styrofoam/na/res-...gue_groove.htm

another mf or the Home Equity Loan. Let me think about that.

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

Lawren,
Don't forget there is a tax credit this year for doing stuff like this to your home.

Lisa

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,
Don't forget there is a tax credit this year for doing stuff like this to your home.

Lisa

Yes tax time will be easier too! A tax credit is generally more valuable than an equivalent tax deduction because a tax credit reduces tax dollar-for-dollar, while a deduction only removes a percentage of the tax that is owed.

Home Energy Efficiency Improvement Tax Credits
Consumers who purchase and install specific products, such as energy-efficient windows, insulation, doors, roofs, and heating and cooling equipment in the home can receive a tax credit of up to $500 beginning in January 2006.

Improvements must be installed in or on the taxpayer’s principal residence in the United States. Home improvement tax credits apply for improvements made between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2007.

http://www.energy.gov/taxbreaks.htm

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Another bill.

Average temps for mid Oct to mid-Nov were the same as last year. 49degrees.

It appears that our electric usage is the same but Gas consumption is .5 CCF/day less although we are keeping the lower levels set a bit higher during non-use times.

The really good news is the COST of the utilities is drastically lower this year.

2005 = 147.70 CCF
2006 = 108.86 CCF

Electricity is also much cheaper.

2005 = 11.89 KWH
2006 = 6.95 KWH

Sure hope they stay down!

[jackio Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close jackio]

Wonderful news! It's nice to see a tangible reward for your expenses.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Lawren,

Perhaps you will see a bigger savings over the colder months? Our siding/window job starts tomorrow....

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Lawren, our house is old and drafty and the amount we spend on utilities every year is staggering. Can you tell me what you did and how you decided to do it? To do that insulation, did you have to rip off old siding, apply the insulation, then put new siding on top? There's no other way to do it, right?

A friend suggested storm windows as a (comparatively inexpensive) first step, but DH says we already have double-pane windows, so he doesn't think storm windows will help all that much. We're also looking into a gas fireplace that throws heat. I can't believe that will help much (bc that gas costs money, too) but some people say it makes a big difference.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren,

Perhaps you will see a bigger savings over the colder months? Our siding/window job starts tomorrow....

Don't you ever stop???
Good news is even the huge amount of work I had done was finished in 10 days. Yours is not so major and the weather will be warm. So you got lucky!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Lawren, our house is old and drafty and the amount we spend on utilities every year is staggering. Can you tell me what you did and how you decided to do it? To do that insulation, did you have to rip off old siding, apply the insulation, then put new siding on top? There's no other way to do it, right?

A friend suggested storm windows as a (comparatively inexpensive) first step, but DH says we already have double-pane windows, so he doesn't think storm windows will help all that much. We're also looking into a gas fireplace that throws heat. I can't believe that will help much (bc that gas costs money, too) but some people say it makes a big difference.

Yes we had to strip ALL the old siding off. They then installed the one inch Dow Styrofoam board and new siding. Eleven new windows <double pane Argons> and the new gutters. Oh and then the garage door spring broke so we had to spend an additional $2k for a new one of those.

Our house is not all that old <it is my age > but the very open floor plan encourages drafts. There was really NO insulation at all and there were 2 open HOLES in the walls.

So it is less drafty. We are using less energy. I expect to see the bigger differences in January and February as well as July and August next year.

Here is the last 13 months of Gas & Elec Bills:

11-20-2006 $250.30

10-19-2006 $149.52

09-20-2006 $157.19

08-21-2006 $275.24

07-20-2006 $385.83

06-21-2006 $141.77

05-22-2006 $146.32

04-19-2006 $195.77

03-22-2006 $330.04

02-21-2006 $388.56

01-23-2006 $476.23

12-20-2005 $457.51

11-18-2005 $319.02

The red months are post-project. There was a BIG electric difference between July and August.

As a side note. We did not replace the north bay windows. A. they were SO EXPOENSIVE and B. They already have storms and you don't feel a draft by them like you did the old glass wooden sash ones we had on the rest of the house.

I have heard good things about the gas fireplaces but that is put off <again> until we pay off this round of improvements.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

Oh, lordy. Thanks for telling me what's involved. I don't think I can bear it. We just did major work on our basement two years ago and it still isn't totally dry. Or finished. It's just a big damp expensive hole. I'd like to get that more under control before we start the next nightmare.

We spend most of our utilities money in the winter, the house is pretty cool in the summer and we don't have central air. But there is just no insulation, period. So the whole house feels chilly, even when I go berserk and crank up the heat (way up to 68! whee!). Guess I'll go take a look at those gas fireplaces.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Don't you ever stop???
Good news is even the huge amount of work I had done was finished in 10 days. Yours is not so major and the weather will be warm. So you got lucky!

We had always planned to do the siding once the kitchen was done, but we added the windows at the last minute. The cost sent me into a near panic attack, but if we don't do it now (with the siding) we'll be stuck with vinyl 'replacement' windows once the siding is done. So Andersons are going in, starting this week. It is going to be slow b/c our contractor likes to work alone Today it took all day to replace one glass slider b/c of all the rot he found at the base of the house, and he has to take out the brick platform that steps down onto the patio

btw, he is planning to remove the old shingles and wrap the house in that Tyvec-type stuff. I think it's only 1/2" though, not 1".