4 Ways to Advocate for Your Heat this Winter

Back to Blog

Last week, when the temperature here in Rockland, Maine never topped 8°, we ran out of propane at the office.

Yes. We’re painfully aware of the irony: Energy efficiency company employees huddled around individual electric heaters, willing the thermostat to creep up to somewhere near comfortable.

It’s so ridiculous that we were tempted to keep it quiet, but here’s the thing: running out of fuel isn’t just frustrating – it’s dangerous. That’s why Evergreen urges every one of you to advocate for your own heat this winter. Here are some tips:

  1. Keep tabs on your fuel supply, even if you receive automatic deliveries. Fuel companies factor in outside temperature and your usage history to estimate when you’ll be running low, but if you know how full your tank is, you can help your fuel provider keep up.
  2. Give your fuel provider plenty of time to deliver. Fuel companies are facing a host of challenges this winter. The extreme cold temperatures and storms that make deliveries crucial (and more frequently necessary) for customers can make them dangerous and time-consuming for drivers. Calling before you run out is crucial for you both.
  3. Be prepared to wait – especially if you heat with propane. In addition to the weather-related delivery challenges, propane providers are facing supply shortages. Foreign markets, which pay considerably more for propane, are monopolizing the worldwide supply, and 95% of the propane that does come to Maine arrives by rail. That route was complicated by July’s deadly rail disaster in Lac-Megantic, Quebec,further tightening the supply.
  4. Reduce your demand with energy efficiency improvements. Without a doubt, delivery delays are hardest on homeowners who have to weather them frequently. Improving your home’s energy efficiency with targeted air sealing, insulation, basement treatments, and more will stretch the weeks between fuel deliveries, saving you money and worry.

Want to learn more? Contact us for a free energy consult and find out how you can spend more of this winter enjoying the season and less of it fretting over your fuel supply.

Contact us today to learn more!

207-594-2244

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

Bryan, Dave and the entire Evergreen team are wonderfully professional, prompt and thorough. I enjoyed working with them and look forward to continued work as we upgrade our home! Thank you so much for your professionalism, fairness, time and diligence.

Cait

Yarmouth

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

Evergreen did everything they said they would and more. I actually don't mind going into the basement now since they sealed it. The air quality in the house is noticeably better and it's warmer in the winter. We can even store clothing down there where before, whatever was in there would mildew. Even the spider population declined! I used to vacuum so many of them from the corners of the ceilings in the house. Not any more!

Loriel Van Dusen

First we have Evergreen do a BIG project worth about $20K (windows, basement, insulate & rebuild an entire wall, a door, attics, and air sealing). They were so great we had them come back later when we decided we did want to do our other door. They are professional and do great work. They take care of your home and are trustworthy, and on top of all that friendly! I highly recommend you call them!

Garreth C Debiegun

Great job installing windows and insulation.

Bob S.

Rockland

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

Very easy process, start to finish.  Friendly, professional, and really know their stuff.  They made some improvements to our condo and we were very happy with how it played out.  Would definitely recommend them.

Clayton Eames

Evergreen did a fantastic job replacing 28 windows in our house. They were friendly, courteous, and very detail oriented. Brian did a great job planning, estimating and executing the project. Our energy use has dropped significantly since the work was done.

Alex B.

Kittery

Greetings one and all! I am writing to express my gratitude to all involved in my insulation project.  From start to finish, I appreciate the universal theme which was maintained by each and every one of you, to ensure that my home was insulated and protected from freezing pipes as if it was your home. Andrea, thanks for helping me navigate my way to the project. Nate, thanks for the thorough initial assessment and the time you took to explain this project to me, step by step. Brian, thanks for setting up my project - so happy

Michele

We initially contacted Evergreen through Efficiency Maine for an energy audit, which was conducted promptly and professionally by Justin McEdward, one of their Energy Advisors who is BPI-certified. After a thorough inspection of our newly purchased home, Justin explained in great detail what we needed and did not need. It was agreed that Evergreen would remove all of the existing attic insulation, which was not adequate, and replace it with blown in cellulose, to a rating of R-60.

Thomas W.

Scarborough

The Evergreen Team did a fabulous job and was very tuned and responsive to the particular needs we had. The job was done right on budget and we are thrilled with the improved warmth and energy efficiency.

Ira M.

Rockland

Evergreen has insulated two homes that we've owned now and both times we experienced exceptional service and craftsmanship. Our rep, Justin, went above and beyond answering questions and the installation team was attentive to every detail, including pulling out old poorly installed insulation and redoing a bathroom fan that wasn't up to current code. They also left the place spotless every day! Our home is already so much warmer this fall and we are looking forward to using less oil this winter.

Eva G.

Falmouth

I was very impressed by the professionalism of this company and the workers. Brian R. was very prompt in replying to my questions; the crew was meticulous in all parts of the work and attentive to the safety aspects concerning Covid; and Brian was extremely thorough in the final inspection. My attic is now snug and warm and I've noticed that the second floor is warmer as well.

Julia S.

Rockland

The team members were very professional, worked very hard, paid very close attention to detail and cleaned up meticulously every day. I really appreciated the care they took knowing the smallest details were going to make a big difference to our heating bills. Thank you!

Pam B.

Brunswick

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