From: "TURTLE" 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: What is your worst winter heating/ electric bill?
Date: Sat, 1 Jan 2005 03:30:35 -0600


 wrote in message 
news:lVjBd.15811$_3.181765@typhoon.sonic.net...
> TURTLE  wrote:
>>If you could state what effecent the system you have I can give you a general
>>ideal on any saving in general.
>>What is the AFUE rating of the gas furnace ?
>>What is the seer rating of the cooling system ?
>>How much insulation and type of window do you have ?
>
> Don't forget the year the house was built.  That can make a big
> difference.  Older houses were often designed with large attics, wide
> eves and efficient windows to keep it as cool as possible (in the days
> before air conditioning).  Add a little insulation to a house like this
> and you'll have the lowest feasible energy bill.
>
> OTOH, modern tract homes are typically designed by people whose
> degrees indicate they are architects but in reality are little more
> than structural engineers.  I was one of that underpaid, underskilled,
> overworked group for several years after college.  The typical tract
> home is built for air conditioning and has little to recommend it
> efficiency-wise other than modern insulation.
>
> Best thing you can do to an old house is retrofit with vinyl-clad, wood
> frame, double pane windows.  Not only will it be insulated thermally
> but acoustically as well.
>
> FC-AL

This is Turtle.

There is so many things that make a difference you would really have to run a 
heat load on the house to be sure. But even with a little info would help.

TURTLE