Title

Home Improvements

During the course of 3 years, I have made the following improvements:

  1. Painting the roof with hydrated lime
    1. 50lb bag: $4.99 at Tractor Supply. 9 bags - 2 coats
    2. Attic temperature before: 145 degrees. After: ambient
    3. 30% reduction in cooling
  2. Signed up with Gulf Powers Earth Cents program
  3. All new Low-E Tempered Windows at Lowes
    1. Base cost $6100
    2. 10% off Lowes coupon
    3. No interest for 18 months - Lowes card
    4. Gulf Power rebate $1/sq ft (~$300)
    5. 30% tax rebate - limited to $1500 ($1500)
    6. Final cost: $3690 ($205/mo for 18 months)
  4. New GeoSpring hybrid heat-pump water heater
    1. Base cost $1199 - discounted to $999
    2. 10% off Lowes coupon ($99)
    3. No interest for 6 months - Lowes card
    4. Sold existing 40 gallon electric water heater for $50 on Craigslist
    5. $700 rebate from Gulf Power
    6. 30% tax rebate (~$285)
    7. Final cost: -$82
  5. Converted all tube tvs & monitors to LCD and LED
    1. LCD/LED 32"+ Amazon (< $300 w/no interest for 6 months)
    2. Donated all tvs and monitors - tax deduction
    3. Monitors replaced by laptops
  6. Converted all light bulbs to CFL < 10 watt
  7. Added GreenFiber attic insulation
    1. Rebate from Gulf Power
    2. 30% tax rebate
  8. Insulated the garage walls, ceiling and door
  9. Added hurricane strength screen doors
    1. 10% off Lowes coupon
    2. No interest for 6 months - Lowes card
    3. 30% tax rebate (~$285)
  10. Sealed AC and door leaks
  11. Converted all desktop computers to laptops
    1. eBay auction for 5 Dell Latitude laptops with working batteries, 2gb ram, 3ghz, Windows 7 ($600)
    2. Signed up for ebates
    3. 1% off by using ebates to eBay ~$5
    4. Negotiated to $550 with free shipping
    5. Sold 5 cleaned desktops for $625 ($125 each)
    6. Final cost: -$80
  12. Added energy-saver power strips
  13. Replaced all major applicances with energy star applicances
  14. Replaced the old AC with a new Goodman high energy efficient AC/Heat pump