986 Brookside Drive So, Lewiston, NY

• Year built: 1953
• Square footage: 1,243 sq ft
• Style: 01
• Estimated energy score: 33/100
• Estimated annual energy cost: $2,000 - $3,300
• Estimated annual savings potential: $750 - $1,650
• Heating fuel: Natural Gas

Built in 1953, this Lewiston home is part of the residential construction boom that followed World War II across Central New York. The houses that went up between 1945 and 1960 were designed to be affordable and livable, not energy-efficient. Insulation was typically minimal - fiberglass batts in the attic if you were lucky, nothing in the walls. The gas systems that replaced coal furnaces in this era were often oversized and have since been updated, but the envelope around them usually hasn't changed much.

Based on confirmed building data, EcoAudit estimates annual energy costs for this home at $2,000 to $3,300, 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 $750 to $1,650 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.