Home Energy Decisions
Interactive planning tool

Know when each upgrade pays back—and what to do first

Enter your rates, climate, and equipment ages. Get a now/next/later sequence for air sealing, ducts, heat pumps, and water heaters with payback estimates.

Start planningRead the sequencing guide

Avoid emergency replacements

Stage projects before equipment fails. We flag anything over 12–15 years old.

Real payback windows

Your rates + your climate = rough payback ranges, not generic averages.

Comfort-first sequencing

Drafts and hot rooms push envelope work higher in the queue.

Build your upgrade sequence

Adjust the numbers until the payback windows make sense for your home. Use copy/PDF to share with a spouse, contractor, or energy advisor.

Heat pump vs furnace (winter math)Heat pump water heater ROIHow to stage upgrades without rework

Your home profile

All data stays in your browser

Climate & size
Climate zone
Home size
Heating system
Main fuel
Distribution
years
years
Energy rates
$/kWh
Current issues
Optimize for
Your plan

Sequence upgrades so they pay back instead of colliding.

Now (0–6 mo): tune-ups and planning
Next (6–24 mo): Smart thermostat & schedules; Duct sealing + airflow balancing; Air sealing + attic insulation; Heat pump water heater; Heat pump for heating & cooling; Panel / circuit readiness
Later (2–5 yrs): future-proof items
Current heating
$1,359/year
With heat pump
$1,803/year
Cooling cost
$304/year
Now
0–6 months
Nothing urgent here
Next
6–24 months
Smart thermostat & schedulesBalanced

Optimize setbacks, humidity, and staging so existing equipment runs less while staying comfortable.

Duct sealing + airflow balancingComfort

Seal and right-size ducts so future heat pumps run efficiently and quietly.

Air sealing + attic insulationComfort

Seal big leaks and hit code-level attic R-values before replacing equipment.

Heat pump water heaterBalanced

Swap the tank before it fails and cut water heating bills with a heat pump unit.

Heat pump for heating & coolingComfort

Replace the furnace/AC with a variable-speed cold-climate heat pump sized after envelope work.

Panel / circuit readinessPrep

Reserve a 240V circuit or panel upgrade so electrification projects don’t stall during emergency replacements.

Later
2–5 years
Nothing urgent here

Upgrade details

Payback estimates based on your rates and climate

Smart thermostat & schedules

Next

Optimize setbacks, humidity, and staging so existing equipment runs less while staying comfortable.

Assumes 4–6% heating/cooling savingsLow-cost, quick install
Payback
2.4–4.8 yrs
Savings
$83/yr

Duct sealing + airflow balancing

Next

Seal and right-size ducts so future heat pumps run efficiently and quietly.

Balances rooms and reduces duct lossesAssumed 11% savings on heating/coolingAddresses uneven rooms you mentioned
Payback
6.0–10.4 yrs
Savings
$183/yr

Air sealing + attic insulation

Next

Seal big leaks and hit code-level attic R-values before replacing equipment.

Cuts leakage so HVAC can be smallerAssumed 18% load reductionTargets the drafts you flagged
Payback
8.0–14.4 yrs
Savings
$299/yr

Heat pump water heater

Next

Swap the tank before it fails and cut water heating bills with a heat pump unit.

Uses HPWH COP ~2.4Water heating load 14 MMBtu/yr assumedWater heater age pushes timing forward
Payback
109.9–30.0 yrs
Savings
$18/yr

Heat pump for heating & cooling

Next

Replace the furnace/AC with a variable-speed cold-climate heat pump sized after envelope work.

Heat pump COP 2.6 assumedPayback depends on rates—treat as resilience/comfort move
Payback
Varies
Savings
—

Panel / circuit readiness

Next

Reserve a 240V circuit or panel upgrade so electrification projects don’t stall during emergency replacements.

No direct savings, but unlocks electrificationBudgeting placeholder for panel/spare circuitsPreps for future heat pump
Payback
Varies
Savings
—

All data stays on this page

No login required. Update inputs when rates change or after you finish a project.

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