I live in New York State in a 3,700 sq ft split-level home built in 1967. We have three heating and cooling zones; two of them have newer AC units and furnaces, but the third zone relies on an AC unit from 1986 and a furnace from 1998, which is only about 78% efficient. Our utility company, Con Ed, recently charged us around $1,000 for our monthly electricity and gas bill, $600 of which was just delivery charges despite us only using about $300 worth of electricity during the recent heatwave.
I've already switched all the bulbs to LEDs, but I know the biggest drain comes from heating and cooling. We had an energy audit done last year which didn't provide much insight, particularly since the recommendations involved a 20-year break-even. I've also received quotes for attic and rim joist insulation that are around $10-20k, which is a hefty amount.
I'm also considering solar energy as an option; it would cost about $35k upfront, but closer to $20k after incentives with a break-even of around five years. I really want to be smart about my investments, so I'm looking for advice on a few specific questions:
- Should I replace the old AC unit even if it's still working to improve efficiency?
- Will smart thermostats significantly help with my energy savings?
- How should I manage the heating and cooling for my rarely-used third-floor attic?
With Con Ed set to raise prices next year, I need to figure out the best place to put my money: should I prioritize solar, insulation, new HVAC systems, or look for other solutions?
3 Answers
It’s definitely rough with those delivery charges! Those living costs can sneak up on you. Since you have a large home, that’s inevitably going to contribute to higher bills. Considering how old your third AC unit is, it might be worth thinking about an upgrade for efficiency even if it still works, since newer units are much more efficient.
Also, have you looked into sealing any leaks? That could help reduce your costs as well! But upgrading the furnace probably won't pay off until your grandkids need it, so keeping it maintained is probably the way to go. If solar seems promising, moving quickly before any incentive changes is key!
Smart thermostats are generally a good investment, as they can optimize your heating and cooling schedules based on your usage patterns, potentially providing some savings. For that rarely-used attic space, consider keeping the temperature at a neutral level, or even better, don’t cool or heat it unless necessary. Why waste energy on that space? Air sealing the attic could make a bigger difference too!
Exactly! Make sure to check for air leaks in your attic as well—sealing those will help a lot more than just running the AC up there.
Upgrading to solar now seems like the best option before the incentives change. I've been in a similar situation, and I totally feel your pain with those high bills—ours was over $600 in the summer too! After installing solar, our electric bill is just minimal service charges. Also, insulation is crucial! If you can do some DIY sealing in your attic, that might help reduce costs too before looking into more expensive fixes like a HVAC upgrade.
Solar has been the best investment we've made too! With all the tax incentives, it’s the right time to jump in!
Yeah, I agree! I upgraded to solar last year and it's been a game changer! The ROI is solid, especially with those delivery fees. Definitely check the federal incentives!