Insulated hot water lines. Super-insulated water tank. Natural gas heating in warmer climates. High-efficiency indoor lighting. Keep in mind that looking at economics is only one way to think about what improvements to make in your home.
People often forget that energy efficiency can make a home more comfortable.
You eliminate hot spots, cut out noise, keep insects and rodents out, maintain constant comfortable temperatures, etc. It's hard to put a price tag on these, but benefits are clear. Q I want to ship some scented soap in the same package with other items, including food. AThe engineers at FedEx Corp.'s packaging design and development lab advise wrapping soap tightly in several layers of plastic wrap, then double-bagging it in zippered plastic bags. That won't block the soap's fragrance totally, but it will reduce it greatly, they say.