My 1st Electric Bill in the New House

was only $100!
I live in roughly 2600 square feet of air conditioned space. My Husband and I were anticipating our first utility bill and much to our surprise it was lower than we thought it would be. It goes to show that all the energy effeciency upgrades we did really paid off. The temperatures outside have been in the triple digits for over 40 days!

So, I started paying attention to how the mechanics of the house operate. We have two A/C units, one for down and one for up and they never run at the same time. When they do run its for short stints. We installed CFL's in all the light fixtures except for the recessed cans. Our windows are super duper efficient with double panes and argon gas. The entire house, including the attic is blanketed in spray foam insulation while the roof is metal with a radiant barrier and an air barrier to boot! Our Architects took into consideration the direction of the sun and where windows should be placed to reduce the solar heat gain experienced from windows facing west. The entire home features 3' eaves to keep direct sunlight and rain away from the windows and the side walls of the house. We also have a tank less water heater that runs a fraction of the time a standard water heater runs.

I realize now after living in our home since May that all the expense and time it took to integrate these energy efficient features in our home was well worth the pay off. In the original home we carried a similar utility bill for 1000 less square feet, terribly old aluminum windows & A/C window units, 60 year old insulation (if there even was any!) and leaky cracks and crevices.

I am so happy we decided to remove the old house and build anew! The payoff is apparent and I highly recommend anyone with the opportunity to remodel or rebuild their home to seriously consider energy conserving options. The expense might seem high in the beginning but with rebate programs, expected lower utility bills and an eco-satisfaction you get, the outcome is well worth the expense!

Check out the City of Austin Rebate Program for available rebates to upgrade your home!

Day ONE on my Blogging Adventure!

Today, after much hesitation I started my own Blog. We'll see where this takes me... I'll be posting my journey through the Real Estate World as I begin to build my business. I'll have stories to tell from previous experiences from my career as well as my personal life. This should be fun and hopefully rewarding for more than just myself! Stay tuned & enjoy!

~Molly