Home Energy Audits, Picks of the Week, and COVID Test/Mask Deals
Welcome to Saving Money with Andrew!
It all began with a draft in the basement. We converted a corner of our basement into an office, but unfortunately it’s next to a poorly-insulated crawl space, leaving the area perpetually cold. And it’s not just the basement; it’s our first winter in our new house, and our furnace struggles to keep parts of the house warm, even with the windows and doors closed and locked.
Enter the home energy audit. Most electric utilities will provide a free audit in which a third-party contractor will come to your house and suggest ways to make your home more energy-efficient. Some suggestions are obvious, like replacing incandescent bulbs with LEDs or upgrading old appliances, but auditors also use an infrared camera to find areas where heat escapes the house, determining where you might need additional sealing or insulation.
In our case, the auditor found that the crawl space and attic had woefully inadequate insulation, which came as no surprise given our heating issues. A few days later, we had a full proposal to bring our home up to date. After some research on the pricing and the contractor (good reviews on Yelp and Google Reviews), we decided to move ahead.
Even better, in our state the major electric utility will pay the first $1000 toward energy efficiency work. Significant incentives are available in most states.[1]
Is it worth it? We’ll see. Our utility bills are very high, but it’s not feasible to determine what the savings will be until at least a few months after the work is done. HomeAdvisor estimates that home energy efficiency work can yield savings of 5-30% on utility bills, and our auditor estimated a 20% savings, which would justify the investment. In any event, the work is necessary for comfort reasons, but if it pays for itself over time, that’s an added bonus.
I’ll be back in a few months with some initial findings and numbers. If your home heating bills are high or your house is drafty, it’s probably worth checking to see if your utility offers a free energy audit and what incentives might be available in your state.
And now…Andrew’s pick(s) of the week:
How To with John Wilson, one of the quirkiest shows on TV, returns for Season 2. Hilarious and thought-provoking.
Other picks:
Hallmark’s Christmas Movie Battle With Upstart Channel Means Double the Holiday Sap
Finally, tips for our pandemic times:
If you need at-home rapid COVID tests, the best/most affordable option is probably Walmart, which periodically restocks the Abbott two-packs for $14, far cheaper than I’ve found them anywhere else. I also use NowInStock to set email alerts for when tests are restocked there, since they sell out quickly each time.
And if you need high quality masks, we use the KN95s from Bona Fide Masks (not an ad), which are now less than $0.90 each. I’m not a fan of expensive/stylish masks that often sell for $20 or more.
I hope this has been helpful. If you liked it, please share it on social media! Also, please send me your feedback, requests, and success stories.
[1] The IRS also used to offer an additional residential efficiency credit of up to $500, though the credit expires at the end of this year (though it may end up being renewed).