Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 10:37:51 -0600
From: "John A. Weeks III" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: How are people living in retirement?
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In article ,
 BreadWithSpam@fractious.net wrote:

> "John A. Weeks III"  writes:
> >  BreadWithSpam@fractious.net wrote:
> 
> > > had all windows replaced a couple of years ago.  I expect
> > > Jan to be closer to $500.  And, again, that's just the gas.
> > 
> > My house payment is only $500, and I live in a fairly nice
> > neighborhood in a new home.  You would be better off to burn
> > down that house and buy something new.  At least you would
> > build equity on that $500 rather than sending it up the
> > chimney.
> 
> It's a modest home in excellent shape.  A new home wouldn't
> be any more efficient.  It's simply expensive to live in 
> the cold northeast.  Natural gas is expensive.  Period.

The numbers don't show that in my case.  My house is 1900
square feet.  My last gas bill was $86.  I don't skimp on
utilities--I keep the house 71 degrees year round.  Modern
insulation, modern furnaces, and modern windows can work wonders.

> I'm sure that
> with some substantial expenditure in high-tech stuff, one
> could get slightly better efficiency out of a single-family,
> but it's be awfully hard to do much better.

Insulation is not that high-tech.  You can ask your utility
company to come out and do an energy audit.  You might be
able to add in some additional insulation and cut heat loss
dramatically.  Windows are a big energy loser, and modern
windows are expensive to put in.  There are window companies
out there that design new 3-layer low E inserts that go into
older window frames.  Expensive either way.  A 2-stage sealed
combustion furnace is more high tech, but if you compare to
what you have, and pick the right replacement, you might see
a payback in as few as 5 years.

-john-

-- 
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John A. Weeks III           952-432-2708            john@johnweeks.com
Newave Communications                         http://www.johnweeks.com
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