Energy Efficiency Case Study: Woolwich, Maine

- Private group -
Tue, 11/25/2014 - 12:30pm

Evergreen Home Performance has helped hundreds of homeowners make their homes more comfortable and energy efficient. Learn how this Woolwich, Maine homeowner reduced her annual oil usage by 63%. Then contact Evergreen Home Performance at 594-2244 for your FREE energy-smart consult and discover how you can gain comfort and cut costs in your home!

The House
Paula was a newly widowed single mom when she bought this house almost twenty years ago, and she’s made a number of improvements over time. “They made a difference, but they didn’t make all the difference we needed. And the more fuel prices went up, the worse it got.”

She called Evergreen because she was tired of dealing with standing water in the basement, cold temperatures throughout, and mold in the upstairs bathroom – and worried about how those conditions affected her daughter, who suffers from chronic, debilitating health problems. “I read about what Evergreen did at the Rockland Public Library” – where we cut air leakage by 50% to save taxpayers an estimated $11,000 per year – “and thought, that’s a pretty good recommendation.”

The Consult
Energy Advisor Cree Hale Krull identified opportunities to make Paula’s whole house warmer, to create dry basement storage space, and to eliminate mold and mildew problems. He also suggested a long-term, low-interest Efficiency Maine loan to make the project cash-flow neutral.

The Audit
Blower-door testing revealed that Paula’s home was 3 times leakier than required by healthy ventilation standards. This uncontrolled exchange of interior and exterior air meant that Paula had to heat the house from scratch every 57 minutes, driving up fuel costs and keeping the house uncomfortably cold.

The Project
Cree engineered a complete solution for Paula’s energy efficiency challenges. He recommended air sealing and insulating the attic and sidewalls and encapsulating and insulating the basement to reduce energy costs and effectively manage moisture. “I wanted to do it once and do it right,” says Paula.

Evergreen's trained, certified production team installed these improvements, creating a continuous thermal barrier between the conditioned living space and the exterior. “So often when someone is working in your house, you feel sort of imposed upon,” says Paula, “but having the Evergreen team here was always fun. Some are great readers, some are great gardeners, and they all have such great experience with caring for old properties. The whole project was memorable in a very good way.”

The Results
Paula’s Evergreen project reduced her annual oil use by 63% and transformed the house into a cozy, quiet home with consistent, even temperatures. She says, “All winter, I’ve been thinking, I’m so glad I’m in my nice warm house!