Insulation!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bob
Yes, this is the biggest bang for you buck, but all too often, the one that I see most people ignore. Attic insulation always pays you back in noticeable savings over a very short period of time.
Every house that I sprayed insulation into their attic space had the exact same results. 30 percent less energy use!!!!!!!!!!!
Windows take 20 or more years to pay back the install price.
Buying ways to create your own energy sound real nice, but when you do the math with real numbers, you'll find it's either a very long road to make that money back, or even break even.
Solar for heating water and thermal for heating and cooling the house are proven methods that will save energy, but again, it's a math game. Run the numbers. It works for new construction, but with existing homes, it's not always cost effective.
It's kind of like buying new light bulbs at $5 each to save half a penny a month in energy usage. You are using less energy, but it cost you so much to buy the light bulb that it doesn't make any sense.
There are more scams out there in this whole green energy thing then there are new ideas that actually work. Most of it is just a way for somebody or company to make more money. Those pigtail light bulbs are a very good example. GE and the other light bulb companies are making a killing on selling them. People are throwing away perfectly good light bulbs for these new ones, and then not getting an noticeable savings on their energy usage.
Eddie