To determine the fuel source used to heat or cool your home, you can check your heating and

cooling systems or consult your utility bills. Common fuel sources include natural gas,
electricity, oil, propane, or renewable energy sources such as solar or geothermal.

Calculating the cost of heating or cooling your home over one season or year requires the
following steps:

Determine the heating or cooling energy consumption: Review your utility bills to find the
total energy consumption in terms of heating or cooling units (e.g., therms, kilowatt-hours).

Identify the cost per unit: Refer to your utility bills to determine the cost per unit of the
energy source used for heating or cooling. It may vary depending on your location and the
specific fuel source.

Multiply consumption by cost: Multiply the energy consumption by the cost per unit to
calculate the total cost of heating or cooling over the designated period.

To assess the potential savings from improving insulation or windows, consider the
following:

(a) Roof Insulation:

Measure insulation thickness: Measure the thickness of the insulation in your attic to
determine the current R-value.

Determine recommended R-value: Check the recommended R-value for your location, which
may vary depending on climate and building codes.

Calculate savings: If your insulation is below the recommended R-value, doubling its
thickness can save approximately 20% on heating or cooling costs. Estimate the cost of
purchasing and installing additional insulation.
(b) Windows:

Assess current window quality: Evaluate your windows to determine if they are energy-
efficient, such as low-e, argon-insulated thermopane windows.

Estimate savings: Replacing existing windows with energy-efficient ones typically reduces
heating or cooling costs by 20%. Calculate the cost of purchasing and installing new
windows.

After obtaining the costs of insulation and windows, consider the expected duration of your
stay at your current address, denoted as "X." If you plan to reside there for an extended
period, such as 12 years, you can use this value.

To determine if you are a candidate for a negawatt (energy-saving measure), compare the
cost of the improvement (insulation or windows) to X times the annual cost savings achieved
by reducing your heating or cooling bill by 20%. If the cost of improvement is lower than X
times the annual savings, it may be financially advantageous to pursue the negawatt solution.

Remember to consider other factors, such as the environmental impact of the materials used
and the potential long-term benefits of energy efficiency on your home's value and comfort.