A home in a remote location without access to municipal power is expensive to heat during the winter using a gas generator. The home owner is considering whether to set the thermostat to 66 deg F (18.9 deg C) or whether to upgrade her insulation and set her thermostat to 70 deg F (21.1 deg C). Although this does impact her comfort level and her finances, she decides to make the decision
from a life-cycle energy standpoint only. Her home has a square footprint (15 m x 15 m) and is 4 m tall, with insulation in the walls and ceiling. The existing insulation has an R-value of 1.6(m2 Celcius)/W, and the new insulation has an R-value of 3.2 (m2 Celcius)/W. The outside temperature during 9 months of the year averages to 7 deg C; heat is not required the other 3 months.

Upgrade Insulation, 70 deg F Energy to produce insulation (one-time energy cost) No Insulation Upgrade, 66 deg F Energy to produce the gasoline (for all Energy to produce the gasoline (for all 15 years) 15 years) Energy used when the gas is burned (for Energy used when the gas is burned (for all 15 years) all 15 years)