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
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New Construction + Retrofits Testimonials
Paul and Matt performed an energy audit for our 80 year old home this past spring. They were very professional as they explained what they were testing, how and why. During the audit they discovered many areas in our home that had cold air pouring in (and heat pouring out!). They walked us around the house using the thermal imaging camera to show us all the trouble areas, although in some places it wasn’t needed as we could feel the draft easily!
They also checked our boiler & water heater for efficiencies and safety and pointed out small exhaust leaks that needed attention in both appliances. After the audit they discussed several projects we could do ourselves, as well as a full report of the projects they could do for us and how soon they would pay for themselves in lower fuel costs. Equally as important, they didn’t try to sell us on more expensive projects that didn’t have good payback times.
In the end we opted to have our basement and attic sealed and insulated, as well as a more powerful and quite bathroom fan to get excess moisture out of our home. Great job guys and looking forward to the savings this winter!
Tim O., Bangor
What Can Penobscot Home Performance Do for You?
Rather than focusing on a single component, such as drafty windows, an old heating system, or leaky ductwork, Penobscot Home Performance provides a complete solution to improving the energy efficiency of your home. These improvements not only give you a more energy efficient, comfortable, and healthier living environment – they help you save money.
Our Services Include:
- Comprehensive home energy evaluations, providing you with a thorough analysis of your home and its energy footprint
- Home energy check-ups to identify common trouble spots and issues using the EPS Auditor Pro software - providing you with a detailed analysis of your home, including your custom Energy Performance Score
- Heating system analysis, including recommendations for replacement, retrofits, and other alternatives
- Installation of high density spray foam insulation
- Installation of both loose blown and dense packed cellulose in attics and walls, for optimal insulation and heat retention
- Comprehensive air sealing for every trouble spot and leak in your home
- Installation of ventilation systems to ensure healthy indoor air quality
- Damp proofing of leaky basements, addressing both energy issues and the health concerns associated with mold, mildew, and standing water
- Installation of energy-efficient doors and windows, to reduce leakage and help avoid wasted energy costs
- Deep Energy Retrofit projects to help you lower your energy consumption by 70% or more.
- Completion of the paperwork for the PACE and Power Saver loan programs, ensuring your energy efficiency upgrades fit your budget
What Our Services Entail:
SEALING AIR LEAKS
Air leakage can represent between 5% and 40% of your total heating costs. Because of that, controlling air leakage is one of the most aspects of improving your home’s energy efficiency. Many air leaks in your home – such as those around windows, doors, and electric outlets – are fairly obvious. Others – including leaks in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed light fixtures – are often overlooked, but can represent a more significant source of energy loss. Having Penobscot Home Performance locate, block, and seal these hidden sources of air leakage is critical to your home’s overall energy efficiency.
INSULATION
Heat transmission is the average home’s leading cause of winter heat loss. Insulation slows heat transmission through your home’s floors, walls, and ceilings, and when properly installed it can provide for a more even temperature throughout your home. Many older homes are not well insulated, and some even have no insulation at all. At Penobscot Home Performance, we commonly install additional insulation as part of our energy retrofits. Through careful evaluation and comprehensive insulation, we can help you have a quieter, more comfortable living environment, as well as a reduced energy bill.
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
Installing the right ventilation system for your new or existing home is a critical component for keeping the air fresh and healthy and maintaining good indoor air quality. Penobscot Home Performance can install ventilation fans and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) to ensure proper airflow and prevent wasted energy through heat loss.
HEATING SYSTEM ANALYSIS
Understanding the dynamics between your heating system, building shell, and ventilation systems allows our energy auditors to plot a course to correct any potential health and safety issues. Furnaces, boilers, and water heaters are tested for efficiency and adherence to safety standards. We use a combustion analyzer to measure heating system performance, as well as a manometer to check for proper flue draft. Our professionals also check for the potential spillage of flue gases into your home, and test gas lines for leaks.
HOT WATER HEATING
Water heating consumes approximately 15% of the electricity and/or oil and natural gas used in a typical home. Therefore, it is valuable to assess the type, condition, and performance of your home’s domestic hot water heater as part of your energy audit.
LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES
Lighting and appliances can be a significant portion of your home’s electric and fuel use. Identifying large consumers is another critical step in reducing the amount of energy you use. Your electricity use will be evaluated with the goal of finding ways to reduce your total energy load.
ENERGY MODELING AND SCORE
Once we have gathered all the relevant information about your home, Penobscot Home Performance’s auditors use the EPS Auditor Pro energy modeling software to create a “snapshot” of its current energy performance. We then create a prioritized list of energy saving improvements, along with the potential savings that you can expect from implementing each of these improvements. We also provide information about the costs and return on investment involved in undertaking specific projects. This information, along with many other valuable metrics, is presented to you in a clear, detailed report.
LOAN ASSISTANCE
PACE and PowerSaver loans are available to qualified property owners to finance the cost of making a qualified “energy savings improvement” to their property. If a homeowner sells his or her home before the loan is paid off, the loan can either be paid off at the time of sale, or can be transferred with the property to become the responsibility of the new owner. We can assist you in determining loan eligibility, as well as establishing a payment plan that fits your budget.
Rather than focusing on a single component, such as drafty windows, an old heating system, or leaky ductwork, Penobscot Home Performance provides a complete solution to improving the energy efficiency of your home. These improvements not only give you a more energy efficient, comfortable, and healthier living environment – they help you save money.
Our Services Include:
- Comprehensive home energy evaluations, providing you with a thorough analysis of your home and its energy footprint
- Home energy check-ups to identify common trouble spots and issues using the EPS Auditor Pro software - providing you with a detailed analysis of your home, including your custom Energy Performance Score
- Heating system analysis, including recommendations for replacement, retrofits, and other alternatives
- Installation of high density spray foam insulation
- Installation of both loose blown and dense packed cellulose in attics and walls, for optimal insulation and heat retention
- Comprehensive air sealing for every trouble spot and leak in your home
- Installation of ventilation systems to ensure healthy indoor air quality
- Damp proofing of leaky basements, addressing both energy issues and the health concerns associated with mold, mildew, and standing water
- Installation of energy-efficient doors and windows, to reduce leakage and help avoid wasted energy costs
- Deep Energy Retrofit projects to help you lower your energy consumption by 70% or more.
- Completion of the paperwork for the PACE and Power Saver loan programs, ensuring your energy efficiency upgrades fit your budget
What Our Services Entail:
SEALING AIR LEAKS
Air leakage can represent between 5% and 40% of your total heating costs. Because of that, controlling air leakage is one of the most aspects of improving your home’s energy efficiency. Many air leaks in your home – such as those around windows, doors, and electric outlets – are fairly obvious. Others – including leaks in attics, around chimneys, and through recessed light fixtures – are often overlooked, but can represent a more significant source of energy loss. Having Penobscot Home Performance locate, block, and seal these hidden sources of air leakage is critical to your home’s overall energy efficiency.
INSULATION
Heat transmission is the average home’s leading cause of winter heat loss. Insulation slows heat transmission through your home’s floors, walls, and ceilings, and when properly installed it can provide for a more even temperature throughout your home. Many older homes are not well insulated, and some even have no insulation at all. At Penobscot Home Performance, we commonly install additional insulation as part of our energy retrofits. Through careful evaluation and comprehensive insulation, we can help you have a quieter, more comfortable living environment, as well as a reduced energy bill.
VENTILATION SYSTEMS
Installing the right ventilation system for your new or existing home is a critical component for keeping the air fresh and healthy and maintaining good indoor air quality. Penobscot Home Performance can install ventilation fans and Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRVs) to ensure proper airflow and prevent wasted energy through heat loss.
HEATING SYSTEM ANALYSIS
Understanding the dynamics between your heating system, building shell, and ventilation systems allows our energy auditors to plot a course to correct any potential health and safety issues. Furnaces, boilers, and water heaters are tested for efficiency and adherence to safety standards. We use a combustion analyzer to measure heating system performance, as well as a manometer to check for proper flue draft. Our professionals also check for the potential spillage of flue gases into your home, and test gas lines for leaks.
HOT WATER HEATING
Water heating consumes approximately 15% of the electricity and/or oil and natural gas used in a typical home. Therefore, it is valuable to assess the type, condition, and performance of your home’s domestic hot water heater as part of your energy audit.
LIGHTING AND APPLIANCES
Lighting and appliances can be a significant portion of your home’s electric and fuel use. Identifying large consumers is another critical step in reducing the amount of energy you use. Your electricity use will be evaluated with the goal of finding ways to reduce your total energy load.
ENERGY MODELING AND SCORE
Once we have gathered all the relevant information about your home, Penobscot Home Performance’s auditors use the EPS Auditor Pro energy modeling software to create a “snapshot” of its current energy performance. We then create a prioritized list of energy saving improvements, along with the potential savings that you can expect from implementing each of these improvements. We also provide information about the costs and return on investment involved in undertaking specific projects. This information, along with many other valuable metrics, is presented to you in a clear, detailed report.
LOAN ASSISTANCE
PACE and PowerSaver loans are available to qualified property owners to finance the cost of making a qualified “energy savings improvement” to their property. If a homeowner sells his or her home before the loan is paid off, the loan can either be paid off at the time of sale, or can be transferred with the property to become the responsibility of the new owner. We can assist you in determining loan eligibility, as well as establishing a payment plan that fits your budget.
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