Comfort and Energy Efficiency ain’t Sexy

It never ceases to amaze me that people are willing to spend 20, 30, or even $40,000 on remodeling, but when you drop a proposal for $3,500 worth of comfort and efficiency improvements, they look at you like you are from Mars.  It also amazes me that home owners are willing to have areas of their homes that they just don’t use because they are not comfortable to be in.

I was recently speaking with a client about what was causing her home’s comfort issues and high utility bills.  It all started the usual way by going over the home with a fine tooth comb including inspecting every square inch of her attic (which I took a 134 degree temp reading).  After which I provided her with a prioritized list of improvements as well as specific recommendations to improve her home’s issues.

Then came the quote for the services.  Now, my favorite part of my job is the exploring.  Crawling through crawl spaces, basements, and attics looking for that hidden issue is actually the most interesting part.  (Yes, I know I’m an energy nerd)  Educating home owners on what I found and what it means is also extremely enjoyable because I really feel like I’m helping people.  My least favorite part is talking costs.

As expected, the home owner looked at the quote and said “That’s a little more than I thought it would be.”  This was a large house, with large issues, and even larger utility bills.  So I simply replied, “I know insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing isn’t sexy.  It isn’t new granite counter tops, new flooring, or even new fixtures.  BUT, unlike those things, comfort and energy efficiency will NEVER go out of style and the improvements will pay for themselves over time again and again.”  To which she replied “When can you start?”  Trust me, not all these situations end with a happy ending.

So yeah, I know improving energy efficiency and comfort isn’t sexy, but neither is sweating like a pig in your bed because you can’t get the upstairs to cool off.  Got a comment or question?  Please enter it below or contact me @ JonL@theNRGguy.com or through Facebook.  Don’t throw money at your problems, throw knowledge, it’s a lot cheaper.