News and Updates
Is your home energy efficient?
In today’s economy, home energy efficiency is a key concern for many homeowners. Poor insulation and hidden sources of air leakage can lead to high utility bills, heating costs, and uncomfortable living conditions – especially in Maine’s harsh climate. Read more
You can afford to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient...let us help.
What people are saying about Penobscot Home Performance
Hi Matt! I thought you'd like to hear more complete news on the energy savings at my house since you completed the insulation and weatherization work.
From January through April 2008, oil consumption was 918.9 gallons; in the same period in 2009, it was 398.3 gallons. During that period in 2008, electricity consumption totaled 3451 kilowatt hours; in 2009, it was 2914.
Thanks! I've loved it!
Sharon J., Milford
Efficiency Maine Home Energy Savings Program
Project Stats
- Year built: 1876
- Square footage: 2116
- Structure: 2-story balloon frame farmhouse in Belfast, ME
- Fuel Usage for 2009-2010:
1500 gallons of oil: $3950.00
2 cords of firewood: $400.00
Total cost of fuel: $4350.00
- Cost of Recommended energy efficiency upgrades: $11,687.00
- Efficiency Maine HESP Program Incentive at >50% energy savings: -$3000.00
- Federal Tax Credit (30% of material costs, $1500 maximum.):-$1500.00
- Cost to homeowner after incentives: $7187.00
- Fuel savings in dollars per year*: $2175.00
- Years payback: 3.3
- Initial blower door test: 7426 CFM
- Final blower door test: 3850 CFM
- Air leakage reduction in the home: 49%
*Fuel savings were calculated using the Real Home Analyzer Energy modeling software and owner costs of $200.00 per cord of firewood and $2.63 per gallon of oil. Actual fuel savings and payback will vary depending on the cost of fuel, weather conditions, occupant behavior, and other factors.
Homeowners reasons for undertaking the work:
- Saving $$ and energy
- Comfort
- “We know it’s the right thing to do”
This 1876 two story farmhouse had excessive air leakage with many hidden air bypasses to the attic including open interior wall partitions, a large chimney bypass and an uninsulated pull down stairway. The attic and the attic slopes were under insulated for our climate zone, with some loose blown fiberglass and fiberglass batt insulation adding up to only an R-19. Most of the exterior balloon framed, double plaster walls were un-insulated and allowed air to circulate into the interior of the home through the open floor joist cavities. The fieldstone basement walls were also un-insulated as was the box sill area of the basement. There was a great deal of air infiltration through the box sill area and through many cracks and gaps in the foundation walls.
The scope of the work included removing the existing fiberglass batt insulation in the attic and slopes, air sealing all of the penetrations to the attic, building an insulated air- tight cover over the attic pull down stairs, densepacking the 2nd floor slope areas with cellulose insulation, and adding loose blown cellulose to the attic to reach R-60.
All of the exterior walls of the house were densepacked with cellulose insulation by carefully removing the vinyl siding as necessary and drilling into each stud cavity to install the insulation. The floor joist cavities between the 1st and 2nd floors were sealed using cellulose insulation and the “bag method” to stop air flow through the floors. All of the work was checked using an infrared camera to ensure a complete and thorough densepack and to make sure there were no voids or missed bays.
The basement walls and box sill areas were insulated with 2 inches of closed cell spray foam insulation to two feet below grade. This provided an air barrier as well as increased the R value from an R-2 to an R-14.
Air leakage in this home was reduced by 49%. The homeowners should see a 40% or more reduction in fuel usage and the home should be more comfortable with a more even distribution of heat. It should be quieter, and have fewer problems with ice dams and frozen pipes.
Before and after showing air bypass around the chimney in the attic, and how it was sealed using 26 gauge sheetmetal, hi-temperature caulk, and closed cell spray foam.
Attic pull down stair before and after with insulated well sealed stairway cover.
Air sealing of partition wall tops and electrical penetrations with closed cell spray foam in the attic. Note poorly vented bathroom exhaust fan and inadequate insulation.
The attic was insulated with 18 inches of loose blown cellulose to R60.
Infrared photo of the exterior walls. The darker areas indicate uninsulated wall cavities.
Insulating the exterior walls by removing siding and densepacking the walls with cellulose.
A closed cell spray foam insulation was applied to the basement walls to insulate and airseal. Insulation was installed 2 inches thick for an R14.
“The difference between an average performing house and a high performing house is often the contractors willingness to sweat the details that the homeowner never sees like insulating and air-sealing in hard to reach areas.”
Penobscot Home Performance is a Bangor Maine Efficiency Maine contractor.
Project Stats
- Year built: 1876
- Square footage: 2116
- Structure: 2-story balloon frame farmhouse in Belfast, ME
- Fuel Usage for 2009-2010:
1500 gallons of oil: $3950.00
2 cords of firewood: $400.00
Total cost of fuel: $4350.00 - Cost of Recommended energy efficiency upgrades: $11,687.00
- Efficiency Maine HESP Program Incentive at >50% energy savings: -$3000.00
- Federal Tax Credit (30% of material costs, $1500 maximum.):-$1500.00
- Cost to homeowner after incentives: $7187.00
- Fuel savings in dollars per year*: $2175.00
- Years payback: 3.3
- Initial blower door test: 7426 CFM
- Final blower door test: 3850 CFM
- Air leakage reduction in the home: 49%
*Fuel savings were calculated using the Real Home Analyzer Energy modeling software and owner costs of $200.00 per cord of firewood and $2.63 per gallon of oil. Actual fuel savings and payback will vary depending on the cost of fuel, weather conditions, occupant behavior, and other factors.
Homeowners reasons for undertaking the work:
- Saving $$ and energy
- Comfort
- “We know it’s the right thing to do”
This 1876 two story farmhouse had excessive air leakage with many hidden air bypasses to the attic including open interior wall partitions, a large chimney bypass and an uninsulated pull down stairway. The attic and the attic slopes were under insulated for our climate zone, with some loose blown fiberglass and fiberglass batt insulation adding up to only an R-19. Most of the exterior balloon framed, double plaster walls were un-insulated and allowed air to circulate into the interior of the home through the open floor joist cavities. The fieldstone basement walls were also un-insulated as was the box sill area of the basement. There was a great deal of air infiltration through the box sill area and through many cracks and gaps in the foundation walls.
The scope of the work included removing the existing fiberglass batt insulation in the attic and slopes, air sealing all of the penetrations to the attic, building an insulated air- tight cover over the attic pull down stairs, densepacking the 2nd floor slope areas with cellulose insulation, and adding loose blown cellulose to the attic to reach R-60.
All of the exterior walls of the house were densepacked with cellulose insulation by carefully removing the vinyl siding as necessary and drilling into each stud cavity to install the insulation. The floor joist cavities between the 1st and 2nd floors were sealed using cellulose insulation and the “bag method” to stop air flow through the floors. All of the work was checked using an infrared camera to ensure a complete and thorough densepack and to make sure there were no voids or missed bays.
The basement walls and box sill areas were insulated with 2 inches of closed cell spray foam insulation to two feet below grade. This provided an air barrier as well as increased the R value from an R-2 to an R-14.
Air leakage in this home was reduced by 49%. The homeowners should see a 40% or more reduction in fuel usage and the home should be more comfortable with a more even distribution of heat. It should be quieter, and have fewer problems with ice dams and frozen pipes.
Before and after showing air bypass around the chimney in the attic, and how it was sealed using 26 gauge sheetmetal, hi-temperature caulk, and closed cell spray foam.
Attic pull down stair before and after with insulated well sealed stairway cover.
Air sealing of partition wall tops and electrical penetrations with closed cell spray foam in the attic. Note poorly vented bathroom exhaust fan and inadequate insulation.
The attic was insulated with 18 inches of loose blown cellulose to R60.
Infrared photo of the exterior walls. The darker areas indicate uninsulated wall cavities.
Insulating the exterior walls by removing siding and densepacking the walls with cellulose.
A closed cell spray foam insulation was applied to the basement walls to insulate and airseal. Insulation was installed 2 inches thick for an R14.
“The difference between an average performing house and a high performing house is often the contractors willingness to sweat the details that the homeowner never sees like insulating and air-sealing in hard to reach areas.”
Penobscot Home Performance is a Bangor Maine Efficiency Maine contractor.
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