We often talk about the importance of energy upgrades for your home. But if you're thinking about an upgrade this winter, such as adding more insulation to your attic, you may be wondering exactly how to calculate whether that's a wise financial investment.

There are a variety of formulas available for making this calculation, such as the one from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). It's not a terribly difficult formula to use, and I've modified it here to make it a little more understandable. You'll need to do a little research to track down some basic information to fill in the blanks, all of which you can get off the Internet or with a couple of phone calls. Then it's just a couple of minutes with a tablet and a calculator. Incidentally, this formula also works for upgrades to wall insulation.  more...