18 North Park, Auburn, NY

• Year built: 1910
• Square footage: 1,402 sq ft
• Bedrooms: 3
• Style: Colonial
• Estimated energy score: 22/100
• Estimated annual energy cost: $2,500 - $4,150
• Estimated annual savings potential: $950 - $2,250
• Heating fuel: Natural Gas

A home built in 1910 is working with construction standards from an era when insulation was an afterthought and heating fuel was cheap. Walls in homes of this age almost never have cavity insulation - it simply wasn't standard practice. Windows are frequently original or early replacements, and the mechanical system has likely been converted at least once, often from coal to oil and then to natural gas. That conversion history matters because each change tends to leave behind oversized equipment and duct runs designed for a different fuel.

Two-story colonials have more exterior wall surface relative to their footprint than single-story homes, which means wall insulation matters more here than in a comparable ranch. Older colonials built before modern sheathing standards often have minimal or no wall cavity insulation.

Based on confirmed building data, EcoAudit estimates annual energy costs for this home at $2,500 to $4,150, assuming natural gas heating and typical usage patterns for Central New York. A targeted set of improvements - usually starting with attic insulation, air sealing, and possibly equipment upgrades - could reduce that by $950 to $2,250 per year. New York State and National Grid offer rebates that cover a meaningful share of weatherization costs for homeowners in Onondaga County. A free EcoAudit assessment identifies exactly where this home is losing energy and which programs apply.