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In the Media
Our Hero: Matthew Damon of Penobscot Home Performance
Matthew Damon has a habit of crawling around the cramped, dirty and hidden spaces in strangers’ homes, all in the pursuit of energy efficiency.
Retrofits Testimonials
I requested an audit in order to meet the requirements of the Maine solar rebate program. The audit uncovered some problem spots with an otherwise well-insulated and sealed home, and explained how and where heat moved through the house. The audit itself was an education for me as well as for the builder and architect. We learned a lot about heat flow and proper insulation and sealing during the building process. An energy audit of this quality pays for itself over and over.
Sue M, Bar Harbor
West Broadway Energy Retrofit
This home is located in Bangor’s Historical District and, when tested, was found to have a significant amount of air leakage as well as inadequate insulation in the attic and basement. The homeowners complained of high fuel bills, drafts, and many cold rooms. The “thermal envelope” of the home, especially the stairwell leading to the attic, was poorly defined and poorly insulated.
The attic had several recessed lights which were leaky as well as electrical penetrations, a sewer vent pipe, and a large hole around the chimney (chimney “by-pass”). The existing insulation was approximately 5 inches of old rock wool.
The basement walls were a combination of fieldstone and brick with an R-value of approximately 1. The box sill and band joist area in the basement as well as a small bulkhead door were very leaky during the blower door test.
All penetrations into the attic were sealed with 2 part expanding spray foam and the chimney was sealed with sheet metal and high temperature caulk. The thermal envelope was defined by dense packing cellulose into the stairway wall cavities, the stairway, and insulating the door to the attic. A high quality weather strip kit air sealed the old leaky attic door. Finally, 15 inches of loose blown cellulose was installed in the attic to increase the R-value by 50.
A new Panasonic bathroom fan was installed to remove moisture from the 1st floor bathroom.
In the basement, 1 inch of 2 part expanding closed cell spray foam was installed on the foundation to approximately 1 foot below grade. 2 to 4 inches of foam was installed in the box sill and band joist areas. The R-value was increased from 1 to between 7 and 28 in the basement and the cold air infiltration was virtually eliminated. A high end weather-strip kit was installed on the door and 1 inch Polyisocyanurate was installed on it to complete the thermal envelope.
Initial Energy Evaluation
Click to enlarge any of the photos below.
The Blower Door set up in the front door of the home.
The bathroom recessed light. 
The bathroom recessed light as seen through the infrared camera. The dark areas indicate the light is leaky and the area surrounding it is cold and poorly insulated.
The back stairwell, connected to the exterior wall, was cold and leaky as these photos indicate.
Attic Retrofit
Matt is hard at work air sealing the top plate of the 2nd floor with 2 part foam. These attentions to detail are what make a home perform well.
The top view of the very leaky recessed bathroom light prior to air sealing and insulating.
Rigid foam and 2 part expanding foam are used to air seal and insulate the recessed light.
The attic is air sealed and ready to be insulated. We place these rulers to be sure the correct amount of insulation is installed.
Several views of the attic flat after the cellulose has been installed. 12” of cellulose was blown in this home on top of 8 inches of loose rock wool. The plywood seen is a storage area we constructed.
Basement Retrofit
The empty box sill in the basement prior to retrofitting. This assembly has an R-value of approximately 2 and was quite leaky.
The same box sill now has approximately 3 to 4 inches of 2 part foam installed. The foam will completely seal air leaks AND provide an R-value of about 20.
Paul is seen here applying fire-rated 2 part expanding closed cell foam to the granite/concrete/brick foundation. This foam has an R-value of around 7 and needs no additional fire-covering.
All basement walls had 3 to 4 inches of foam applied in the box sill/ band joist area and 1 inch of 2 part foam applied to 1 foot below grade. The air leakage was greatly reduced in the basement and it is now better insulated.
This home is located in Bangor’s Historical District and, when tested, was found to have a significant amount of air leakage as well as inadequate insulation in the attic and basement. The homeowners complained of high fuel bills, drafts, and many cold rooms. The “thermal envelope” of the home, especially the stairwell leading to the attic, was poorly defined and poorly insulated.
The attic had several recessed lights which were leaky as well as electrical penetrations, a sewer vent pipe, and a large hole around the chimney (chimney “by-pass”). The existing insulation was approximately 5 inches of old rock wool.
The basement walls were a combination of fieldstone and brick with an R-value of approximately 1. The box sill and band joist area in the basement as well as a small bulkhead door were very leaky during the blower door test.
All penetrations into the attic were sealed with 2 part expanding spray foam and the chimney was sealed with sheet metal and high temperature caulk. The thermal envelope was defined by dense packing cellulose into the stairway wall cavities, the stairway, and insulating the door to the attic. A high quality weather strip kit air sealed the old leaky attic door. Finally, 15 inches of loose blown cellulose was installed in the attic to increase the R-value by 50.
A new Panasonic bathroom fan was installed to remove moisture from the 1st floor bathroom.
In the basement, 1 inch of 2 part expanding closed cell spray foam was installed on the foundation to approximately 1 foot below grade. 2 to 4 inches of foam was installed in the box sill and band joist areas. The R-value was increased from 1 to between 7 and 28 in the basement and the cold air infiltration was virtually eliminated. A high end weather-strip kit was installed on the door and 1 inch Polyisocyanurate was installed on it to complete the thermal envelope.
Initial Energy Evaluation
Click to enlarge any of the photos below.
The Blower Door set up in the front door of the home.
The bathroom recessed light. The bathroom recessed light as seen through the infrared camera. The dark areas indicate the light is leaky and the area surrounding it is cold and poorly insulated.
The back stairwell, connected to the exterior wall, was cold and leaky as these photos indicate.
Attic Retrofit
Matt is hard at work air sealing the top plate of the 2nd floor with 2 part foam. These attentions to detail are what make a home perform well.
The top view of the very leaky recessed bathroom light prior to air sealing and insulating.Rigid foam and 2 part expanding foam are used to air seal and insulate the recessed light.
The attic is air sealed and ready to be insulated. We place these rulers to be sure the correct amount of insulation is installed.
Several views of the attic flat after the cellulose has been installed. 12” of cellulose was blown in this home on top of 8 inches of loose rock wool. The plywood seen is a storage area we constructed.
Basement Retrofit
The empty box sill in the basement prior to retrofitting. This assembly has an R-value of approximately 2 and was quite leaky.The same box sill now has approximately 3 to 4 inches of 2 part foam installed. The foam will completely seal air leaks AND provide an R-value of about 20.Paul is seen here applying fire-rated 2 part expanding closed cell foam to the granite/concrete/brick foundation. This foam has an R-value of around 7 and needs no additional fire-covering.All basement walls had 3 to 4 inches of foam applied in the box sill/ band joist area and 1 inch of 2 part foam applied to 1 foot below grade. The air leakage was greatly reduced in the basement and it is now better insulated.
