Age in Place with Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Back to Blog

MPBN‘s live, call-in radio program Maine Calling is talking about aging in place today. It’s a great conversation, and it reminded us how important energy efficiency is for older homeowners.

Take Michael and Jody. Though their Rockland, Maine home had been in the family for 85 years, rising fuel prices made them question their ability to stay there. “It was getting impossible to live here,” Michael says.  “We’d been talking for years about moving out of the house, which we didn’t want to do… but it was so cold.” Evergreen’s comprehensive air sealing & insulation cut Michael and Jody’s heating costs by 30%, and because they financed the project with a long-term, low-interest loan, there were no up front costs.  Energy savings covers their loan payments, so they’re getting paid to be more comfortable.

Whether you’re aging in a beloved family home or a new space, you’re probably seeking lower maintenance, lower bills, greater comfort, and greater health.  Energy efficiency upgrades from Evergreen Home Performance make homes more comfortable, durable, healthy, and energy efficient – and they’re essential to making aging in place possible.

Here’s how:

Energy efficiency controls costs for fixed-income budgets.
Most homes – even those built fairly recently – are more expensive to heat and cool than they should be.  Cold air leaks in around doors and windows and through the small cracks that, in most homes, add up to the equivalent of an open window.  These leaks lead to cold floors, uneven temperatures, and high heating costs.  Energy efficiency upgrades seal those air leaks to better hold warm air, insulating homeowners from the cold and from the uncertainty of rising fuel costs.

Home performance makes beloved homes comfortable and healthy.
As we age, lung function decreases and respiratory problems become more serious.   Allergens that were once just annoying become acute health risks, and good housekeeping only goes so far toward lessening them.  Damp basements are a breeding ground for mold and mildew and, because air enters below ground level, most of the air in your home has passed through that petri dish – not a healthy proposition.  Home performance solutions that keep moisture outside the building envelope lower the risk of asthma by 33%.  Studies have also linked efficiency and weatherization with the reduced use of asthma medication, a decline in high blood pressure, and shorter hospital stays during colder months.

Home performance can prepare a family home for the next generation.
A home is more than a place to live.  It’s the repository of fond memories and future dreams, and many retirees look forward to passing that on to their children.  But an expensive, inefficient, uncomfortable house doesn’t always feel like a gift.  The next generation is much more likely to embrace a family home that’s been upgraded with efficiency measures that make it as practical as it is sentimental.

Want to learn more? Contact Evergreen for a free energy consult and learn how energy efficiency can help you age in place.

Contact us today to learn more!

207-594-2244

Evergreen did a fantastic job insulating our 1930's home. The onsite team was professional, clean, and really just a joy to interact with throughout the process. A blower test at the end showed a significant decrease in air leakage. I highly recommend Evergreen.

Kristen H.

South Portland

From beginning to end – that is from the moment Justin McEdward stepped into our home to assess our energy conservation needs until the crew left – the Evergreen Home Performance process went absolutely smoothly. Justin made a thorough inspection and took pictures with an infrared camera. His proposal described the scope of work in detail, and he explained what we could expect the proposed work to accomplish. Our proposal was forthcoming within a couple of days, and Justin was available to discuss it and answer questions.

Adrienne Harkavy

We had Evergreen Home Performance of Rockland come in to make our home more energy efficient, and what a TOP notch crew. Brian and his crew did an amazing job from start to finish. Very knowledgeable and professional. We would Definitely highly recommend this crew to anyone who is looking for energy efficiency in their home with a company that truly is an expert and knows how to do a quality job and truly cares about their customer.

Melissa S.

Owls Head

Evergreen removed and replaced the insulation in my attic. They did a great job!, Crew was excellent, and the whole thing went smoothly, and the attic was NOT easy to get into or work in, so kudos to some hard work done well!

Joel A.

Portland

"Working with Evergreen from start to finish was a great experience." See what our customers have to say about their experience with Evergreen Home Performance. 

Jeff L.

Very Satisfied with the work performed by Evergreen. Professional employees, high quality work done in a timely manner. My sales rep was Justin, and he was phenomenal During the initial walk around my house, he gave me great ideas for how to improve the efficiency of our home. We will consult with Evergreen for our future home projects.

Adam G.

Westbrook

I had gotten estimates from several other companies, but Evergreen was in another league entirely with their professionalism. If you want the job done correctly, I couldn't recommend this company enough.

Rayna Mayo

Freeport

Our house still the most efficient home we’ve ever lived in. And we have you folks to thank for that! A special howdy to Brian Robinson please!

Bruce O’Donal and Eva Butler

They were highly recommended. I found them to be very knowledgeable and so helpful, with practical ideas. Despite my not living within their service area, they were generous with their knowledge, describing the usual solutions to correct leaks in my basement, and what the result is likely to be by following path A, B or C, and why. I was discouraged. Talking with Evergreen helped me see that my basement problems are far from insurmountable and really, fairly common in 100-year old homes. There are proven solutions.

Rosalind J

Damariscotta

The Evergreen crew from initial inception to installation were professional, on time, and left our place spotless. The end result was exceptional.

John Brown

We needed basement encapsulation to stop moisture coming up into the house from our regularly flooding basement. We had mold growing on windowsills and furniture. All the staff were friendly, respectful of our home, and easy to work with. Humidity has gone from 70% down to 40% and mold has not grown back after two months. Very grateful.

Sarah C.

Belfast

I would recommend Evergreen wholeheartedly because of their professionalism, their follow through, and thoughtful project planning.

Jennifer A

I never leave reviews, but had a great experience with Evergreen and wanted to spread the word! In short, we worked with them to insulate our roof this winter and have noticed surprising immediate results. The constant ice dams I have wrestled with are completely gone, and the home is noticeably more comfortable. It's a little too early to tell if our oil bill is going to reduce, but I imagine we will see an impact there as well.

Joel W.

Portland

I cannot say enough great things about working with Evergreen Home Performance. Everything including the initial consultation, the fabulous work crew, the office support and the final resolution was handled in a caring and professional manner. My only regret is that I did not know about them earlier. I enthusiastically recommend Evergreen to anyone with concerns about home energy use.

Darlene R

Bath

We had Evergreen energy do blow-in cellulose. I was very happy with the result. They tested with blower-door before and after. House is now MUCH warmer. Also, in the time since when I've had to open walls for various access, I've been impressed with how they got the insulation packed in everywhere. I'd use them again.

Noah

Peaks Island

Portland Buy Local
Efficiency Maine
EPA Lead-Safe Certified
Building Performance Association
BPI Certified