Return On Investment from adding insulation. - Page 2

TimJFowler · 01-28-11, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider3700

It's really hard to say that the insulation is entirely the result in savings like that.
...
but it does not take the fact that I'm smarter about the heatpump and use it more efficiently namely I always have the woodstove going on ultra cold days where the heat pump kicks the backup heater on.

So, I'll amend my caveat - This assumes that your other gas or electricity uses and supplemental heating are comparable, but it is much better than nothing.

If you supplement your heat with a woodstove on very cold days that adds a wrinkle to the whole equation.

Quote:

Originally Posted by strider3700

I'm sure moving from R12 to R52 in the attic helped a bunch though.

I hope so!

Ryland · 01-29-11, 10:16 AM

For me, natural gas is my only source of heat, other then the waste heat from the electric oven, light bulbs and people, we have the same 3 adults as last year and the only true variable is that our thermostat is a manually set dial, but of any variations, we've kept the house warmer this year then in the past so that would have caused an increase in over all use.

Ryland · 02-19-11, 05:30 PM

Well, I got another winter utility bill, I think it might have been the coldest month that we have had for the last two years that we've owned our house, or at least pretty close, our bill is 40% less then two years ago, average temp this month was 7F per day and two years ago the outside temp was an average of 8F per day, so pretty close temp wise and two years ago we were only heating the upper half of the house with the lower half kept at 50F or so while we did some work on it, so not a great comparison but the fact that the house was kept cooler over all, we were heating less space and we still used 40% more fuel is a drastic change.
Compared to last year (whole house was heated) this year was 11 degrees colder out per day for the same month and even with the colder weather our bill showed we used 10% less fuel then last year, so I'm not sure if there are any good ways to extrapolate that info but it looks like a drastic savings!

strider3700 · 02-19-11, 09:45 PM

you should start a spreadsheet and then work out the heating degree days for each billing period for your location. Here's the easiest source if it's not on your bill
Heating & Cooling Degree Days - Free Worldwide Data Calculation

Then you can work out therms/hdd or kwh/hdd and have a consistent number to compare periods

Drake · 02-24-11, 09:01 PM

The return on your investment is also tax free.

strider3700 · 02-24-11, 11:52 PM

and inflation proof. It's hard to say which is worth more these days

Ryland · 02-25-11, 07:00 AM

My return on investment also keeps my toes warm, something money in the bank can not do!
I don't think it will help a whole lot in the summer seeing as how we don't have a/c but at the same time more insulation in the attic should help keep the upstairs cooler and the ground level already stays pretty cool.

02-19-11, 05:30 PM	#13
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	Well, I got another winter utility bill, I think it might have been the coldest month that we have had for the last two years that we've owned our house, or at least pretty close, our bill is 40% less then two years ago, average temp this month was 7F per day and two years ago the outside temp was an average of 8F per day, so pretty close temp wise and two years ago we were only heating the upper half of the house with the lower half kept at 50F or so while we did some work on it, so not a great comparison but the fact that the house was kept cooler over all, we were heating less space and we still used 40% more fuel is a drastic change. Compared to last year (whole house was heated) this year was 11 degrees colder out per day for the same month and even with the colder weather our bill showed we used 10% less fuel then last year, so I'm not sure if there are any good ways to extrapolate that info but it looks like a drastic savings! Last edited by Ryland; 02-19-11 at 05:39 PM..

01-29-11, 10:16 AM	#12
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	For me, natural gas is my only source of heat, other then the waste heat from the electric oven, light bulbs and people, we have the same 3 adults as last year and the only true variable is that our thermostat is a manually set dial, but of any variations, we've kept the house warmer this year then in the past so that would have caused an increase in over all use.

02-19-11, 09:45 PM	#14
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	you should start a spreadsheet and then work out the heating degree days for each billing period for your location. Here's the easiest source if it's not on your bill Heating & Cooling Degree Days - Free Worldwide Data Calculation Then you can work out therms/hdd or kwh/hdd and have a consistent number to compare periods

02-24-11, 09:01 PM	#15
Drake DIY Guy Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Mpls,MN Posts: 315 Thanks: 2 Thanked 17 Times in 17 Posts	The return on your investment is also tax free.

02-24-11, 11:52 PM	#16
strider3700 Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vancouver Island BC Posts: 745 Thanks: 23 Thanked 37 Times in 30 Posts	and inflation proof. It's hard to say which is worth more these days

02-25-11, 07:00 AM	#17
Ryland Master EcoRenovator Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Western Wisconsin. Posts: 913 Thanks: 127 Thanked 82 Times in 71 Posts	My return on investment also keeps my toes warm, something money in the bank can not do! I don't think it will help a whole lot in the summer seeing as how we don't have a/c but at the same time more insulation in the attic should help keep the upstairs cooler and the ground level already stays pretty cool.