Today with new construction there is no reason to not thoroughly investigate energy efficiency. There are numerous options that should be considered. Some of them are costly with long paybacks. Some are easily affordable and return their costs quickly. If one is planning to live in the same home for many years, energy efficiency can pay substantial dividends as retirement approaches. And who could not use reduced or eliminated utility costs in their golden years. Well of course there are the super rich, but that would not be you since you are reading this booklet, probably looking to mitigate energy costs. So start your planning now, and incorporate as many improvements as your budget will allow, when they allow. The sooner the savings start, the sooner they become all profit.