Insulation Upgrade Priority Planner

The tool starts with a base priority score for each project, then adjusts it using four signals: typical heat-loss risk for your climate and home type, whether the area is thin/none versus already good, a boost if your biggest comfort issue matches that area, and your budget preference. Finally, it estimates a typical cost range for each category and assigns an impact level (high/medium/low) to explain why each item lands where it does.

This planner uses typical patterns rather than a full energy audit, so the ranking is best for quick decisions—not final contractor design. If you already selected “good” attic insulation, the tool will generally avoid recommending attic insulation as your top priority unless air sealing is clearly needed and you choose “highest savings first.” Likewise, if you’re prioritizing “lowest upfront cost,” air sealing tends to move earlier because it often delivers comfort improvements quickly relative to many insulation upgrades.

Treat this as a prioritization guide, not a guaranteed savings calculator. If you suspect moisture problems, pests, major structural issues, or you see visible air leaks (e.g., around rim joists, plumbing chases, or repeated cold spots), consider an energy audit before investing. The tool also doesn’t model exact R-values, airtightness measurements (like ACH50), or your local pricing—so cost and impact ranges should be viewed as directional estimates.

If you choose a comfort issue that points away from the attic (like “crawlspace-basement”), crawlspace insulation can rise in the ranking even if attic insulation is thin. If you select “unknown” for climate or comfort area, results become more conservative because the model can’t strongly weight heat-loss patterns. If your top item is “air sealing” but you expected insulation, it usually indicates your selections suggest draftiness and/or that air sealing is the faster comfort payoff first.