US Home Energy Planner
What does your home need?
Six quick questions, no email. You’ll get the likely story behind your walls, an upgrade plan with conservative savings for your climate and state energy prices, the tests worth asking for, and which programs are open where you live.
The planner runs in your browser. Nothing you enter is stored or sent anywhere.
Your plan
Your home’s energy plan
Estimates end where the audit begins
Everything above is based on how homes like yours typically perform (scaled to your bill if you entered one), not a model of your actual house. A home energy audit, with a blower door test, an infrared scan, combustion safety checks and, for new equipment, a load calculation, turns these ranges into numbers for your address. The federal $150 audit tax credit ended with 2025, but utility and state programs commonly pay for most or all of an assessment.
Find a certified auditor → How an audit works → What an audit costs →
Want help with the next step?
Tell us your ZIP code, the kind of home you have and what you’re planning. A person reads every message and replies with the certified auditors and utility programs that serve your area. Your plan stays on this page unless you choose to send it.
Estimates are ranges based on how similar homes perform (using our Canadian model’s building-science assumptions), your area’s climate (NOAA) and your state’s energy prices (EIA), with the assumptions listed below. They are deliberately conservative and are not a guarantee of savings. Program details change, so confirm on official pages before spending. Nothing you enter here is stored or sent anywhere: the planner runs entirely in your browser, and this page loads no analytics. Your answers sit only in this page’s address, so a link you copy carries them.
How the planner estimates, and the assumptions behind it
The first three digits of your ZIP code place the home in a state and, where we cover it, one of the 26 largest metro areas, using Census Bureau ZIP code areas, population and the 2023 metro definitions. The metro sets the climate: heating and cooling degree days from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals at its main airport. Outside those metros the planner uses the nearest covered metro in your state, or a stand-in you pick, and says so. Energy prices are your state’s averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). If you enter a gas, oil or propane bill, the heating estimate is scaled to it (within 0.5× to 1.6× of a typical house) and every saving is scaled the same way. An energy audit replaces all of this with measurements. Program and price data were checked on October 12, 2026.
| Built | Heat needed | Attic | Walls | Basement walls | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1946 | 88 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-12 | R-4 | R-4 | single-pane with storm windows |
| 1946–1965 | 62 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-12 | R-8 | R-4 | single-pane with storm windows |
| 1966–1980 | 53 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-20 | R-12 | R-4 | double-pane, clear glass |
| 1981–1995 | 40 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-28 | R-12 | R-12 | double-pane, clear glass |
| 1996–2010 | 35 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-40 | R-17 | R-12 | double-pane, low-e |
| 2011 or later | 26 kBtu per sq ft a year at 7,560 °F degree days | R-50 | R-19 | R-20 | double-pane, low-e |
These starting points are the same as our Canadian model’s, which built them from Canadian housing data; they are planning assumptions, not survey results for US homes. Heat needed is scaled to your climate’s degree days. Townhouses, rowhouses and duplexes use 90% of the detached figure, and the four size bands are modeled as about 1,000, 1,600, 2,500, 3,500 sq ft.
The same as our Canadian model
- Heating need per square foot by era, house sizes and the starting insulation levels and windows above.
- Upgrade physics: the R-value, window U-factor and air-leakage formulas, multiplied by 0.75 above grade and 0.4 for basement walls; no single upgrade credited with more than 35% of heating, and all together with no more than 60%. Air sealing is credited with a 20% cut in leakage, which is taken as 25% of heat loss.
- Equipment efficiencies: gas furnaces 80% and 95%, gas boilers 82% and 89%, oil 60–85%, propane 82% and 93%, electric resistance 100%, geothermal heat pumps a seasonal COP of 2.8. Air-source heat pumps have a seasonal COP (backup heat included) that falls as winters get colder: cold-climate models 2.8 below 5,400 °F heating degree days, down to 1.6 above 10,800.
- Hot water: about 20 gallons per person a day for a household of three, heated to 131 °F; the water heater efficiencies; and heat pump water heaters charged for the heat they take from the house in winter.
- Thermostat setbacks save about 2% of heating per degree Celsius (1.8 °F) held for 8 hours; heat pumps limited to about 4 °F.
- Energy content of heating oil and propane (converted to gallons) and of electricity.
Different for the US
- Climate: NOAA 65 °F degree days, divided by 1.8 for the model’s Celsius degree days. The yearly average temperature, which sets the cold-water temperature, is worked out from the degree days.
- Prices: EIA state averages, shown with the month or week they cover, and U.S. averages, labeled national, where EIA has no state figure. Savings are valued at these averages; the Canadian model uses the lower price of one more unit.
- Units: therms (natural gas converted at EIA’s 1,036 Btu per cubic foot), gallons, kilowatt-hours and US dollars.
- Attic target: ENERGY STAR’s retrofit figure for an uninsulated attic in your IECC climate zone: R-30 in zone 1, R-49 in zones 2–3 and R-60 in zones 4–8.
- Bills: only a gas, oil or propane bill is used, split between heating and a same-fuel water heater in the model’s proportions for your climate (the Canadian model uses a fixed 80%). Electric bills aren’t used.
- Propane water heaters are given the model’s gas tank efficiency.
- Left out: air-conditioning energy (we have no US design temperatures), crawlspace savings, and installed costs and paybacks (no verified US prices yet).
Energy prices by state (EIA, as used by the planner)
| State | Electricity, July 2026 | Natural gas, 2025 average | Heating oil, week of October 5, 2026 | Propane, week of October 5, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 16.4¢/kWh | $1.69/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $3.52/gal |
| Alaska | 28.8¢/kWh | $1.25/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Arizona | 15.4¢/kWh | $1.79/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Arkansas | 14.3¢/kWh | $1.86/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.29/gal |
| California | 33.6¢/kWh | $2.12/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Colorado | 17.0¢/kWh | $1.08/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.39/gal |
| Connecticut | 24.2¢/kWh | $1.62/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | $6.00/gal | $4.21/gal |
| Delaware | 18.5¢/kWh | $1.54/therm | $6.04/gal | $3.67/gal |
| District of Columbia | 25.2¢/kWh | $1.61/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Florida | 15.0¢/kWh | $2.46/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $4.86/gal |
| Georgia | 16.3¢/kWh | $1.97/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $3.08/gal |
| Hawaii | 48.0¢/kWh | $5.06/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Idaho | 13.7¢/kWh | $0.74/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.51/gal |
| Illinois | 19.2¢/kWh | $1.09/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $1.83/gal |
| Indiana | 16.7¢/kWh | $1.11/therm | $5.76/gal | $2.47/gal |
| Iowa | 16.0¢/kWh | $1.02/therm | $5.68/gal | $1.63/gal |
| Kansas | 15.3¢/kWh | $1.43/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.01/gal |
| Kentucky | 13.8¢/kWh | $1.37/therm | $5.83/gal | $2.67/gal |
| Louisiana | 12.7¢/kWh | $1.68/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Maine | 32.4¢/kWh | $1.83/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | $5.97/gal | $3.55/gal |
| Maryland | 21.4¢/kWh | $1.56/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | $6.11/gal | $3.80/gal |
| Massachusetts | 30.5¢/kWh | $2.42/therm | $6.12/gal | $3.59/gal |
| Michigan | 23.1¢/kWh | $1.05/therm | $5.58/gal | $2.34/gal |
| Minnesota | 17.4¢/kWh | $1.06/therm | $5.74/gal | $1.90/gal |
| Mississippi | 14.5¢/kWh | $1.61/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $3.05/gal |
| Missouri | 16.1¢/kWh | $1.44/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.06/gal |
| Montana | 15.0¢/kWh | $0.87/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $1.91/gal |
| Nebraska | 13.8¢/kWh | $1.10/therm | $5.33/gal | $1.70/gal |
| Nevada | 12.8¢/kWh | $1.27/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| New Hampshire | 26.6¢/kWh | $1.80/therm | $5.98/gal | $3.95/gal |
| New Jersey | 25.2¢/kWh | $1.37/therm | $6.04/gal | $3.95/gal |
| New Mexico | 16.1¢/kWh | $0.95/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| New York | 29.9¢/kWh | $1.70/therm | $6.23/gal | $3.67/gal |
| North Carolina | 15.2¢/kWh | $1.58/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | $5.82/gal | $3.58/gal |
| North Dakota | 13.4¢/kWh | $0.92/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $1.61/gal |
| Ohio | 19.4¢/kWh | $1.34/therm | $5.92/gal | $2.57/gal |
| Oklahoma | 14.3¢/kWh | $1.39/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.29/gal |
| Oregon | 16.0¢/kWh | $1.61/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Pennsylvania | 21.7¢/kWh | $1.45/therm | $5.83/gal | $3.15/gal |
| Rhode Island | 28.3¢/kWh | $2.09/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | $6.12/gal | $3.82/gal |
| South Carolina | 15.5¢/kWh | $1.63/therm (2024 average; no 2025 figure) | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| South Dakota | 15.4¢/kWh | $0.95/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $1.73/gal |
| Tennessee | 13.7¢/kWh | $1.14/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $3.19/gal |
| Texas | 15.9¢/kWh | $1.87/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $3.10/gal |
| Utah | 13.1¢/kWh | $0.98/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | $2.23/gal |
| Vermont | 23.8¢/kWh | $1.74/therm | $5.99/gal | $3.77/gal |
| Virginia | 17.6¢/kWh | $1.62/therm | $5.95/gal | $3.68/gal |
| Washington | 14.7¢/kWh | $1.70/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| West Virginia | 15.8¢/kWh | $1.33/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| Wisconsin | 19.1¢/kWh | $1.04/therm | $5.58/gal | $1.81/gal |
| Wyoming | 14.4¢/kWh | $1.13/therm | none published; U.S. $6.04 used | none published; U.S. $2.60 used |
| United States (national) | 18.3¢/kWh | $1.48/therm | $6.04/gal | $2.60/gal |
Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, residential average for July 2026 (released September 24, 2026). Natural gas: EIA residential price, 2025 annual average, which is steadier than a summer month; EIA calls it inclusive of taxes and delivery charges. Heating oil and propane: EIA weekly residential prices for the week of October 5, 2026, excluding taxes; EIA publishes them for some states only.
Climate in the 26 metro areas (NOAA 1991–2020 normals)
| Metro area | Heating degree days | Cooling degree days | IECC zone | Station |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis–St. Paul | 7,399 | 830 | 6A | MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP, MN US |
| Detroit | 6,067 | 847 | 5A | DETROIT METRO AP, MI US |
| Chicago | 5,974 | 1,003 | 5A | CHICAGO OHARE INTL AP, IL US |
| Denver | 5,862 | 850 | 5B | DENVER INTL AP, CO US |
| Boston | 5,545 | 802 | 5A | BOSTON LOGAN INTL AP, MA US |
| New York City | 4,872 | 1,017 | 4A | NEW YORK JFK INTL AP, NY US |
| Philadelphia | 4,510 | 1,358 | 4A | PHILADELPHIA INTL AP, PA US |
| Baltimore | 4,484 | 1,322 | 4A | BALTIMORE WASH INTL AP, MD US |
| St. Louis | 4,433 | 1,713 | 4A | ST LOUIS LAMBERT INTL AP, MO US |
| Seattle | 4,376 | 265 | 4C | SEATTLE TACOMA INTL AP, WA US |
| Portland | 4,104 | 508 | 4C | PORTLAND INTL AP, OR US |
| Washington, DC | 3,769 | 1,738 | 4A | WASHINGTON REAGAN AP, VA US |
| Charlotte | 3,058 | 1,769 | 3A | CHARLOTTE DOUGLAS AP, NC US |
| Atlanta | 2,531 | 2,051 | 3A | ATLANTA HARTSFIELD INTL AP, GA US |
| San Francisco | 2,475 | 200 | 3C | SAN FRANCISCO INTL AP, CA US |
| Dallas–Fort Worth | 2,220 | 2,824 | 2A | DALLAS FT WORTH AP, TX US |
| Austin | 1,718 | 2,996 | 2A | AUSTIN BERGSTROM AP, TX US |
| San Antonio | 1,438 | 3,148 | 2A | SAN ANTONIO INTL AP, TX US |
| Riverside | 1,386 | 1,854 | 3B | RIVERSIDE MUNI AP, CA US |
| Greater Houston | 1,266 | 3,288 | 2A | HOUSTON INTERCONT AP, TX US |
| Los Angeles | 1,214 | 720 | 3B | LOS ANGELES INTL AP, CA US |
| San Diego | 990 | 893 | 3B | SAN DIEGO LINDBERGH FLD, CA US |
| Phoenix | 874 | 4,765 | 2B | PHOENIX SKY HARBOR INTL AP, AZ US |
| Orlando | 525 | 3,452 | 2A | ORLANDO INTL AP, FL US |
| Tampa | 434 | 3,928 | 2A | TAMPA INTL AP, FL US |
| Miami | 104 | 4,656 | 1A | MIAMI INTL AP, FL US |
Degree days are base 65 °F. Metros are listed coldest first.
Sources
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020: heating and cooling degree days
- U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 population estimates, Metropolitan Statistical Areas (July 1, 2025): the 26 metro areas
- EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A · EIA residential natural gas prices (annual) · EIA heat content of natural gas · EIA Heating Oil and Propane Update
- ENERGY STAR - Recommended Home Insulation R-Values: attic and floor targets by climate zone
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to County Relationship File (national): which counties each 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Area (ZCTA) touches, with the land area of each part
- U.S. Census Bureau, Core Based Statistical Areas (CBSAs), Metropolitan Divisions and Combined Statistical Areas, July 2023 delineation file (List 1, OMB Bulletin 23-01)
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table-based summary file, table B01003 (total population), ZCTA rows
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Gazetteer file for ZCTAs (internal point latitude and longitude), used for distances to the nearest covered metro
- U.S. Census Bureau, state FIPS codes and USPS abbreviations (state.txt)