If you are buying or building a new house, make sure that recommended energy-saving features are included. To keep initial selling prices competitive, many home builders offer standard levels of insulation.  Higher levels of insulation are often a good investment when having a new home built.

Many energy comparison calculators are available to calculate your break-even level for investing in additional insulationyou’re your new home.  Your general contractor or insulation sub-contractor should be able to advise you of the potential cost savings based on how long you intend to own your new home.  You should find out if your builder constructs homes in accordance with the Model Energy Code guidelines. It is almost always more economical to install the recommended levels of thermal insulation during initial construction rather than adding insulation later.