We had thought that our 1890s house was reasonably tight, what with blown cellulose in the cap and walls, high quality storm windows, and heavy insulating bats along the foundation. To our surprise, the blower door test showed cold air pouring into the basement, as well as at the wall between the finished and unfinished parts of the attic. The entire energy audit was an education, as Matt and Paul took plenty of time to explain what they were doing and learning. An excellent detailed report helped us to understand how our house compared to national standards and similar homes. The estimate was broken down into sub-jobs showing clear costs and potential benefits for each, which helped us to decide which to prioritize.

Ultimately we had additional cellulose blown under the floor and along the outer walls in the unfinished attic, a new insulated wall built, and smaller leaks sealed around plumbing vents and in storage cubbies of the finished attic. In the basement, the fiberglass bats were replaced with expanding foam insulation, and new energy efficient windows were installed. While insulating the damp crawlspace at the back of the house, the crew also sealed that area with heavy polyethylene. This dramatically improved air quality in the basement and in the rooms above the crawlspace.

Matt and Paul and their workers were great to deal with, always professional, pleasant and reliable. They came when they said they would, worked hard on the job, and cleaned up after themselves. Matt kept us well informed about the work schedule and was very accommodating about any changes we might request.

While it's too early to predict the impact on our winter fuel bill, this autumn the house is definitely holding heat better through the night and feels much less drafty on windy days.

Thanks, Matt and Paul, for helping us to stay cozy and put a bit less carbon out into the atmosphere! We'll keep you posted on the results after the cold weather arrives.