Energy Efficiency Calculator

Analyze your home's energy efficiency and improvement potential. Get your energy rating and discover opportunities for cost savings.

Energy Efficiency Calculator

Analyze home energy efficiency and improvement potential

Monthly energy usage

Cost per kilowatt-hour

Total living space size

Energy Rating Scale

Understanding the A-G energy efficiency rating system

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
Most Efficient
Very Efficient
Efficient
Average
Below Average
Poor
Least Efficient

Key Improvement Areas

Focus areas that can significantly improve your home's energy efficiency

Insulation

Improve wall, loft, and floor insulation

Heating System

Upgrade to efficient boiler or heat pump

Windows

Install double or triple glazing

Smart Controls

Add programmable thermostats and zones

  1. 1

    Gather 12 Months of Energy Bills

    Collect electricity and heating fuel bills for past year. Add up total kWh, therms, or gallons used. Calculate annual energy cost. This baseline is crucial for measuring improvement savings.

  2. 2

    Get Home Energy Audit

    Professional audit ($200-500) or DIY audit identifies: air leaks (blower door test), insulation gaps (thermal imaging), duct leaks, inefficient appliances. Prioritizes improvements by ROI. Many utilities offer free/subsidized audits.

  3. 3

    Set Savings Target

    Choose realistic goal: 10-20% (low-cost upgrades - sealing, insulation, thermostat), 30-50% (major upgrades - heat pump, windows, deep insulation), 60-80% (comprehensive retrofit + solar). Higher targets need larger investment.

  4. 4

    Plan Investment Budget

    Allocate funds by ROI: High ROI (<3 years): Air sealing $200-500, attic insulation $1k-2.5k, LED lighting $100-300. Medium ROI (3-8 years): Heat pump $8k-20k, windows $3k-15k. Long ROI (8-15 years): Solar $15k-30k, ground-source heat pump $20k-35k.

  5. 5

    Calculate Savings and Payback

    Calculator shows: annual energy reduction (kWh and %), dollar savings per year, total investment cost, simple payback period, 20-year net savings. Factor in: utility rebates ($500-5k), federal tax credits (30% for qualifying upgrades), increased home value, and comfort improvements.

Pro Tip: Use Ctrl+Enter to calculate quickly, or Ctrl+R to reset the form.

Frequently Asked Questions

Rank by ROI: 1) Air sealing ($200-500, 10-20% savings, <2 year payback), 2) Attic insulation ($1,000-2,500, 15-25% savings, 3-7 years), 3) Programmable thermostat ($100-250, 10-15% savings, <1 year), 4) LED bulbs ($2-5 each, 75% lighting savings, <1 year), 5) Water heater blanket ($30, 5-10% water heating savings, <1 year).

Yes, but requires comprehensive approach: deep insulation upgrade (20-25%), heat pump installation (30-40%), LED lighting (5-8%), Energy Star appliances (5-10%), air sealing (10-15%), solar panels (offset remaining). Total investment: $20,000-40,000. Realistic timeline: 3-5 years of staged improvements. Start with highest-ROI projects first.

2024 Federal Tax Credit (25C): heat pumps, insulation, windows/doors, biomass stoves - 30% of cost up to $1,200/year. Heat Pump Water Heater: 30% up to $2,000. Solar: 30% unlimited. Check state/utility rebates too - often $500-5,000 additional incentives for efficiency upgrades.

Staged approach is smarter financially and practically. Phase 1 (Year 1): Air sealing + attic insulation + programmable thermostat ($1,500-3,500). Phase 2 (Year 2-3): Windows or heat pump ($5,000-15,000). Phase 3 (Year 4-5): Solar panels ($15,000-30,000). Benefits: spread costs, learn from each upgrade, refinance based on savings, qualify for annual tax credits. Do envelope first, then systems.

Use this framework: 1) Calculate savings ÷ cost = ROI for each project, 2) Start with payback <5 years (air sealing, insulation, thermostat), 3) Address comfort issues (drafts, cold rooms) - high quality-of-life ROI, 4) Do envelope before equipment (insulation before new HVAC), 5) Stack incentives (federal + state + utility rebates), 6) Consider lifespan - if furnace dying soon, upgrade to heat pump vs basic replacement.