Esquire Magazine published an article earlier this month called “18 Quick Ways to Save Like a Man Right Now.” Always looking for creative ways to save money, especially if I can do so while buttressing my masculinity, I gave it a read. “Butcher your own meat,” the article began. Okay, I’ll get on that. “Afford your car.” Check.
But quickly was I mildly and pleasantly surprised to discover that not one, not two, but three of their money-saving tips had to do with none other than - you guessed it - home energy efficiency and home performance. As you know, at Energy Circle we persistently laud the money saving benefits of home energy efficiency improvements - particularly low-cost, high-return improvements like improved insulation, air sealing, energy efficient lighting and air conditioning alternatives. So it’s not the ideas that caught us off our guard, but the fact that they were being promoted, of all places, in Esquire Magazine. Because this is, after all, after we’ve been told time and time again that home energy efficiency just isn’t “sexy” enough to catch on, or isn’t as cool as flashier energy upgrades like solar PV’s, wind turbines and geothermal heat pumps.
Well, have a look at this other feature on Esquire’s website called “10 Video Pick-Me-Ups from a Supermodel,” and tell me that Esquire’s advice isn’t sexy.
Moving on, here’s what they recommend, more particularly:
1) Insulate your house, and insulate it well.
Even if your home is already insulated, there's a pretty good chance that it could use an upgrade. Because of settling over time, or improper installation in the first place, many homes' insulation actually performs at a fraction of its intended R-value. A home energy audit will help you pinpoint spots that could use some extra blown in cellulose.
2) Hire your contractor out of season.
As we suggested earlier this summer ("Book Your Energy Audit Now, Avoid the Crunch"), hiring a contractor out of season is a great way to score a deal; or, at the very least, ensure that you don't have to wait months to get some work done.
3) Cut heating and cooling costs with strategic landscaping.
Shading your home with deciduous trees is an easy, aesthetically pleasing way to reduce your utility bills. While the shade will reduce cooling costs (and keep your home more comfortable) in the summer, the bare trees in the winter won't block the sun in the winter - so you can save money on your heating bills, too.
Check out our full Learn section for more detailed information about how to cut your home’s utility bills painlessly and stylishly. Because saving money on your energy bills means more dough for deer hunting trips, chocolate chip cookies or whatever other manly pursuits might suit your fancy.
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