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