2 Roosevelt Place, Thompson, NY

A home built in 1920 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.

Homes described as "old style" in county records were typically built with balloon-frame or early platform construction, where wall cavities run from the basement to the roof without firebreaks. That framing style creates a natural chimney effect that pulls conditioned air upward and out - air sealing is the first priority before any other improvement.

Based on confirmed building data, EcoAudit estimates annual energy costs for this home at $2,650 to $4,450, 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 $1,000 to $2,400 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.