I’ll never forget the day my friend moved into his new house and the joy on his face.
Being so close to the water, his house is the envy of the neighborhood.
Wooden floors and ample room are just two of his perks. He told me over and over again how lucky he was to find the area, and how much he loves his brand new, ultra-convenient house. But he quickly realized that his energy costs were through the roof. At first, he didn’t know any better and kept turning up the heat and air conditioning to get through the extreme temperatures. When I tried to go over there in the summer, his air conditioning was always turned up too high. Even when he wasn’t there, he left it on so that the house would be comfortable when he returned. The excessive energy use of his HVAC system was the first domino in his financial downfall. His HVAC maintenance costs were substantial, as were his energy costs. His heater broke because he did not upgrade the filter properly. Due to a lack of maintenance, he also experienced other issues with his HVAC system. Once, in the dead of winter, his furnace gave out, leaving him and his family cold and shivering. After calling a repairman and paying a hefty fee to have the problem fixed, my friend realized his error, began to implement energy-saving measures, and replaced his inefficient heating system. The man reduced his air conditioning use over the summer and enrolled in a maintenance program. After making these adjustments, both his energy costs and his financial situation stabilized.