When Clare and Tim moved to Portland in June 2024, they were settling into a new home and preparing for their first child. Like many first-time homeowners, they quickly realized their 1950s-era house needed attention. The boiler was “ancient,” and the attic insulation was virtually nonexistent.
They knew they had a limited budget and a baby on the way in September. So they prioritized what would make the biggest difference in their lives. “We both work from home, and we moved in during a heat wave,” Clare recalled. “I was six months pregnant, and with no attic insulation and no shade on the house, it was like baking in an oven. You could feel the hot air pouring in from the roof.”
Vintage 1950s Insulation
Hole in Insulation over stairwell
After installing heat pumps, they turned to Evergreen Home Performance to address the attic. That’s when Energy Advisor Chris performed a home energy audit and found something alarming. “Not only was the insulation vintage 1950—very thin and ineffective,” Chris reported, “but there was a huge hole in the attic insulation, opening into a hollow space over the stairwell ceiling.” This type of construction flaw is common in older homes and can create a major bypass for heat to enter in the summer and escape in the winter.
Evergreen’s crew sealed the bypass over the stairs and upgraded the attic insulation to R-60 using dense-packed cellulose. This transformed the attic from a heat trap into a protective barrier against extreme temperatures.
Before
After
“Chris showed us exactly where the heat was escaping and what we could do to improve comfort and efficiency,” Tim said. “He made the case clearly, and we decided it would be money well spent.”
One of the biggest benefits for Clare and Tim was how Evergreen handled the financing and rebates. “We’ve worked with a couple of companies since we moved here, and Evergreen was the only one where we didn’t have to deal with the Efficiency Maine rebate process at all,” Clare said. “Everything was just built into the quote. It was such a weight off our shoulders.”
Tim added, “Rebates are great, but the administrative burden is usually placed on the homeowner. Evergreen made it simple—we got the benefits without the paperwork. That was the best-case scenario.”
Evergreen also prioritized the timeline. “We told them, ‘We’re free until September, and then nobody’s coming in the house,’” Clare laughed. “They understood how important it was to get this done before our baby arrived, and they got it done fast.”
The installation crew, led by Red, made a lasting impression. “They were so respectful,” said Clare. “They put down drop cloths, brought their own bathroom supplies, and cleaned up so well that I told Red the house smelled better after they left.” Red also took the time to send photos and explanations of the work since the improvements were in the attic—out of sight, but not out of mind.
Tim appreciated the visuals. “This isn’t like a kitchen remodel where you see the results every day. You don’t see attic insulation. But the photos helped us connect to the value of the work.”
And they’ve already started to feel a difference. “Before, the closet under the attic felt like a sauna,” Clare said. “Now, it just feels like the rest of the house. I know we’ll feel it in winter, too.”
As they look ahead to life with their newborn, both Clare and Tim are grateful for a home that’s more efficient, comfortable, and ready for the next chapter. “There are so many unknowns when you’re expecting a child,” Tim said. “This was one thing we didn’t have to worry about. We wanted our home to be a safe and comfortable place for our baby—and we got that with Evergreen.”
