HeliumFluorineSiliconAluminumHydrogenArgonCalciumNitrogenSulfur
That is a very high electric billI assume you have electric heat and not gasEven so that is highIt looks like you could use some more insulationThe recommended level for most attics is to insulate to R-38 or about 10 to 14 inchesThe insulation may have compacted down after the house was builtBut I don't think this is your real problemI would look for leaky ductworkCheck the furnace area and all the ductwork to make sure you not blowing warm air into the attic someplaceThis can be a huge waste Look for leaky windows and doors also The porch are is fineIt should not be blocked off or insulatedThe holes in the soffit above the porch are meant to allow air to flow into the atticThis is good.
If the roof over the porch is joined to the main roof you will lose a lot of heat out through the porchI don't understand that the porch ceiling is neither closed nor open, just big gaps between the timbersI'd want to close it up and insulate above the ceilingThere is some insulation in the attic, but more can't do any harmCertainly in a cold area you want more insulation than in a warm oneA professional energy audit will help you to concentrate your money where it will best be used on insulation.
For sure a barrier should be between the porch and the attic and more insulation will helpRolls of fiberglass insulation can be purchased at most of the big box stores in your areaIt is easy for a homeowner to install with a staple gun and some gloves and coveralls to keep the glass out of your hair and clothing Since this is a Habitat home the work was done by volunteers who are trying to help Humanity have some better housing in their areaSometimes they make mistakes, sometimes they do not know everything that should be done for a home built by master craftsmenElectric heat is always expensive compared to natural gas but it is easier and less expensive to install Good luck to you in your new home.
Helium has 2Fluorine has 7Silicone has 4Aluminum has 3Hydrogen has 1Argon has 8Calcium has 2Nitrogen has 5Sulfur has 6.
I don't know where you live, and can't assess the $600 monthly heat billBut it has been a brutally cold winterTo your specific concerns: If the front porch isn't heated, there should not be any insulation over itYou also don't want insulation right up against the roof plane, which is over the eaves of the houseElsewhere, it looks like you've got what, 9 inches of rockwool insulation? That seems pretty skimpy for any house in the snowbeltYes, there should be a vapor barrier between the ceiling drywall below, and the insulation, tooWhat I see in your first picture is something I really don't like: Uninsulated ductwork in an unheated spaceIf that's forced air heat, you're wasting a lot of heat right thereI'm going to suggest that you have a professional energy auditSometimes, the utility company will do one for free, so start with themEverything depends on where you liveIf you're in the north, you'll probably wind up replacing the rockwool with something like 12 inches of fiberglass, faced with a vapor barrier, and doing something to insulate the ductworkGood luck, and I'll check back if you want to provide additional information before closing this questionEDIT 7-FEB-14: Yes, it's all electricI live in the southwest corner of Missouri WowI'll still suggest that you get that home energy auditBut I'm still pretty confident that you'll want a foot or more of vapor-barrier-faced fiberglass insulation in the attic, and some kind of insulation around that bare ductworkLikewise, you can do some work with weatherstripping on the doors in the living space, but it sounds like you may need some light carpentry, tooThe good news is that installing fiberglass insulation and weatherstripping are both low-skill jobs you can do yourselfThe supplies are pretty reasonable at any home center.
