We have a lot of old windows in this house… 8 to be exact, and a couple of those double or triple-sized windows.
While we would like to replace them -  the ecoENERGY retrofitting rebate from the government is not very much ($80 per rough opening). And our home auditor told us that new windows don’t [...]

BEFORE: Our old front door, right
AFTER: Our new EnergyStar front door, far right
About a week ago we had our old, drafty wooden front door replaced with a new EnergyStar-certified (to climate zone B) steel and lead-glass front door.
Here’s what the new door actually cost us:
Door (prehung): $480
Cost of contractor to hang door: $500
Handle & lock [...]

Replacing our ratty old wooden front door is what you’d call a “small ticket item” – meaning the ecoEnergy Retrofit rebate for it is only $80 from the government.
Sigh… We call this “Heather’s door” because it is Heather’s dream to bring light into our coffin-like kitchen with virtually no light from the small, west-facing window. [...]

Good thing we weren’t looking to buy a new natural gas heating system … well, maybe we were, but we didn’t even have a chance yet to think about it to take advantage of this deal.
Because I was surfing around for more government programs to help offset our eco renovation costs when I discovered…
A $100 [...]