Koneff Case Study

“We saw an immediate drop in our fuel usage and an immediate increase in our level of comfort!” - K. Koneff

Customer:

M. & K. Koneff

Location:

Alton, ME

Work completed:

  • Air Sealed
  • Insulated attic and exterior walls with dense-packed cellulose
  • Insulated basement with closed-cell spray foam

Improvements:

  • Whole house air sealing eliminates drafts
  • Warm floors
  • Even temperature distribution
  • Lowered fuel usage

Benefits:

“Immediate improvement in comfort!”

Project investment:

$20,408

Annual savings:

Projected savings of $1,500 per year.

Return on Investment (ROI) estimated to be 11 years.

56% reduction of building envelope air leakage!

Background

M. & K. Koneff relocated to Alton, ME from Maryland in December 2010.  Their new home was 100+ years old, not insulated or air sealed and was extremely cold and drafty.

Key Reasons for Project

The home was simply too cold for comfort and the Koneffs’ were having the oil and LP tanks filled every 3 weeks from the time they moved in to the start of Penobscot Home Performance’s insulation contractor services.   

Getting Started

M. found Penobscot Home Performance via the Efficiency Maine website and contacted them to conduct an energy evaluation the week after they moved in. Matthew Damon performed whole-house diagnostic tests to determine quality and levels of insulation, combustion appliance safety and indoor air quality. From there, a customized energy upgrade plan was created for the Koneff’s home in Alton. 

Top Priorities Identified

Due to the age of the home, it was quickly determined that the project would be a complete retrofit, including air sealing, followed by insulation upgrades.  The images below show the attic insulated with cellulose and an interior bulkhead door that was built to minimize air leakage in the basement, both of which are now properly air sealed and insulated to keep the home comfortable and the fuel bills reasonable.   

18” of cellulose in the attic made an instant difference.18” of cellulose in the attic made an instant difference.Insulated bulkhead door was built.Insulated bulkhead door was built.

Summary of Benefits

By completing whole-house energy upgrades by Penobscot Home Performance, the air leakage has been reduced by 56%, resulting in immediate comfort improvements and less frequent calls to the fuel companies.

Results

The Koneff’s have reported:  “As soon as the crew started insulating the attic, I could feel an immediate difference.  We are looking forward to a warm winter next year!”