- Did a full window replacement and attic insulation about 3 years before adding solar. My house is a ‘70s ranch, so it was pretty drafty before.
- After the upgrades, my heating/cooling bills dropped by about 25%. Didn’t really expect that much, honestly.
- When I finally went solar, the installer sized the system based on my new (lower) usage. Ended up needing a smaller array than what they first quoted before the upgrades.
- ROI-wise, the insulation and windows paid for themselves in about 6 years. Solar’s looking closer to 9-10 for me, but that’s partly because my overall electricity use was already down.
- One thing I learned: insulation is way less “sexy” than solar panels, but you feel it every winter when your house isn’t freezing and your furnace isn’t running non-stop.
- If you’re only going to do one thing at a time, I’d honestly tighten up the house first. Solar makes more sense once you’re not wasting energy through leaky windows or thin walls.
- Only downside—window upgrades are pricey up front and don’t have rebates like solar sometimes does. Still worth it for comfort alone, though.