⚡ Energy Cost Calculator 2026

📊 Understanding Home Energy Costs

Heating Degree Days (HDD)

Measures heating needs based on outdoor temps below 65°F. Cold climates (7,000+ HDD) like Minnesota have much higher heating costs than mild climates (2,000 HDD) like Georgia.

Fuel Cost Comparison (2026)

• Natural Gas: $1.00-1.50/therm ($10-15/MMBtu) — cheapest in most markets
• Propane: $2.50-3.50/gallon ($25-35/MMBtu) — 2-3x more expensive than gas
• Heating Oil: $3.00-4.50/gallon ($21-32/MMBtu) — volatile, regional pricing
• Electric Resistance: $0.12-0.20/kWh ($35-60/MMBtu) — most expensive unless heat pump
• Heat Pump: Effective $12-20/MMBtu equivalent (200-300% efficiency) — competitive with gas

System Efficiency Ratings

• AFUE (Furnaces): 80% (old) to 98% (condensing gas furnace)
• HSPF (Heat Pumps): 8-13 (heating), higher is better
• SEER (Cooling): 13-25 (cooling), minimum 14 for new units since 2023
• COP (Heat Pumps): 2.0-4.0 (200-400% efficiency), varies with outdoor temp

🏠 Average Energy Costs by Home Size (2026)

Home Size	Cold Climate	Moderate Climate	Mild Climate
1,000 sq ft	$1,800-2,400/yr	$1,200-1,600/yr	$800-1,200/yr
2,000 sq ft	$2,800-3,600/yr	$1,800-2,400/yr	$1,200-1,800/yr
3,000 sq ft	$3,800-5,000/yr	$2,400-3,200/yr	$1,600-2,400/yr
4,000 sq ft	$5,000-6,500/yr	$3,200-4,200/yr	$2,000-3,000/yr