Savings per year: $4,400, 4.5 tons CO2
The Richies currently spend $11,700 per year on shelter. Their new budget is an $8,000 per year. That's $667 per month.
The first option they'll consider is renting. A Craigslist for places to rent for between $200 and $667 returns dozens of options. Same with a Facebook Marketplace search.
If they're planning to stay in town for at least five years they might consider buying. In the New York Times Buy or Rent Calculator setting the Home Price to $145,000 results in an overall cost equivalent of renting at $667 per month over five years. A Zillow search again presents dozens of options.
Since they may be renting and I won't pretend to do an imaginary home energy audit, one quick tip to lower heating bills by 87%. Set the thermostat down to 50 (F) and use warm clothes and microheaters to keep people warm and toasty. Heat people not the planet.
In the summer do the opposite. Set the thermostat to 85 (F), wear less cloths, and use personal cooling devices to cool your body. This saves $630 on utilities and 4 tons of CO2 per year.
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