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Descant · 02-17-2020, 08:56 PM

1. FREE Have a couple of firms do an analysis. Preliminary can be done looking at Google earth and on the phone. Can you remove trees, or do they belong to neighbors?
2 FREE Have an onsite visit
3. Next cheapest: Put all your electric stuff on timers or control from your cell phone
4. Low cost: Do an energy audit. Seal cracks, add insulation etc.
5. Low upfront cost: you can lease solar panels instead of buying. May or may not be a good deal, but check it out.
6. As home #3, it appears to be used mostly for snowmobile weekends. Make a better effort to rent or raise the rent for summer or shoulder season tenants.
7. Go 100% solar and brag to everybody how great it is and what an environmentalist you are even if it costs you a little extra, it's good for the planet and you'll make it up when electric rates go up and/or you sell the house. You're personal friends now with Al Gore.
8. How long are you going to own this place? Can you get back your upfront costs on resale? You can often get your money back on a new kitchen, but not on a new roof. What do local Realtors have to say?

I think there are a lot more questions than just the monthly electric bill.

02-17-2020, 08:56 PM	#37
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,039 Thanks: 1,212 Thanked 1,519 Times in 985 Posts	Onsite advice 1. FREE Have a couple of firms do an analysis. Preliminary can be done looking at Google earth and on the phone. Can you remove trees, or do they belong to neighbors? 2 FREE Have an onsite visit 3. Next cheapest: Put all your electric stuff on timers or control from your cell phone 4. Low cost: Do an energy audit. Seal cracks, add insulation etc. 5. Low upfront cost: you can lease solar panels instead of buying. May or may not be a good deal, but check it out. 6. As home #3, it appears to be used mostly for snowmobile weekends. Make a better effort to rent or raise the rent for summer or shoulder season tenants. 7. Go 100% solar and brag to everybody how great it is and what an environmentalist you are even if it costs you a little extra, it's good for the planet and you'll make it up when electric rates go up and/or you sell the house. You're personal friends now with Al Gore. 8. How long are you going to own this place? Can you get back your upfront costs on resale? You can often get your money back on a new kitchen, but not on a new roof. What do local Realtors have to say? I think there are a lot more questions than just the monthly electric bill.