[maxerickson]

A high price of power would magnify the effects of poor insulation.

Someone paying $5,000 a year for electric has strong incentives to make improvements, so I was wondering about the specifics, not trying to make a brilliant suggestion that all they need to do is put up some pink foam.

[Roboprog]

You're partially right: the house is a long "strip" shape that has the living room facing south. We moved in about a year and a half ago, and the back yard needs landscaping to put in some trees on the south side of the house. (shade in the summer, drop leaves in the winter) Now if I can only talk my wife into having something that blocks all the sun coming in that she loves so much...