There are many tools available for the homeowner who wants to save money at home. In fact, there are so many choices it can get overwhelming. Here's a great tool that allows you to calculate the savings that be achieved through added insulation. First, you'll need to know how much insulation is currently in your attic--and how much you need to keep your house from bleeding energy.
If you peek in your attic, you will (hopefully!) see some kind of insulation above your ceiling, in between the ceiling joists. (If your insulation covers your ceiling joists, you may still only have about half of the minimum recommended insulation for this region of the country.) Whatever the type of insulation, if you have 3"-4" of it then you are likely in the ballpark of R-11 or R-13. If you have enough to cover the ceiling joists (probably 6"-8") then it's likely R-21 to an R-28. While that may seem like enough, the minimum recommendation by the Department of Energy is R-38! And it is highly advisable to create an R-49 (or even an R-60) in your attic.
So once you know what you have and what you need, use the online calculator to put a dollar sign on the savings from adding insulation. What's nice about this particular page is that it allows you to enter specific energy costs as well as customize geography. It shows savings by year and even includes the amount of reduced greenhouse gases after adding insulation. It's a great place to start when trying to find ways to save Monergy.
