A very smart move with the new HVAC system - they indeed will pay for themselves quickly, and it's so nice to be able to jack the t'stat down to "Chill Meat" if you so desire. Good job.
As a renter I have NEVER had an efficient heating system in a house I've lived in (except maybe the woodstove we installed in our tiny shack in Mossyrock - though it was a lot of work to keep it stocked with firewood). Now I live in a house that has a NEW furnace (because the old one was broken when we moved in so the landlord's agency replaced it) and the savings were UNbelieveable! I'm not sure about the cooling suystem here yet, but it has to be a HUGE improvement over the old window units in the last place we lived.
I bought a big marked-down rib steak this morning at the grocery store (under $3) and had it for lunch with wine. I am starting to get happy despite the awful news of the day.