so, what next?

I think the hardest part of beginning this process is knowing exactly what to do. Same as pretty much any process. I'm also not sure of the best way to quantify and measure results. Is it as simple as looking at utility bills? It would stand to reason that I'd have to look at a whole year of bills to truly see an apples to apples comparison.

The first thing I'm doing is researching recommended energy improvements to see what the consistent recommendations are. I'm researching websites, other blogs, home improvement books, and Green reference books. I'll pass on what I find as I find it.

All of this will have to be balanced against:

a) my available time

b) how much it costs (let's face it... knowing how much I'll save in the future doesn't change how much money I have to spend in the first place)

c) whether I have the knowledge to do it myself (remember, the whole point of this is to do as much DIY as possible)

For perspective, I'm going to bring in a friend of mine who is an experienced contractor, as well as passionate about finding ways to do things more efficiently and more eco-friendly. He's worked on both building new homes, and renovating older ones. I'll bounce all of this off of him for a practical view point. I want to see what he thinks the right list is, as well as get his thoughts on order of importance and DIY feasibility.

Feel free to go ahead and share any lists you may have.

What are your thoughts?