It’s Hot: Here in Maine & On the Planet

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It’s no secret that Maine is hotter than it used to be. Native Mainers from Kittery to Bar Harbor can tell you that they’ve seen summers grow warmer and longer than those of decades past, and winter weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable.

Of course, this phenomenon isn’t exclusive to Maine. We’ve seen signs of climate change across the globe, and now, those signs are clearer than ever. Here’s what you need to know about global climate change in 2018.

Climate Change in 2018: What You Need to Know

Science proves that human activities have been increasing greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution. While human sources of carbon dioxide remain much smaller than natural sources, our contribution has thrown off the natural balance. This means carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere have reached dangerous levels not seen for tens of millions of years.

About 87% of human-produced CO2 emissions come from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. Another 9% come from clearing forests, while industrial processes like cement manufacturing account for 4%.

The Role of Home Energy Use

As a homeowner, you have a larger role in this than you might think. Consider how much you rely on electricity every day — for lighting, cooking, washing clothes, watching TV, air conditioning, etc. Unless you have solar panels on your roof, fossil fuels are burned in order to produce your electricity.

Meanwhile, you may very well be relying on fossil fuels directly to power your home. Maybe you have an oil or propane based heating system, for example, or maybe you have a water heater that runs on natural gas. You may even have a natural gas stove.

Climate Change & Home Energy Use Influence Each Other

Here’s where things get even more complicated. Climate change is not just a result of high home energy use; it also causes higher home energy use. This is because homeowners are relying more and more on their cooling and heating systems to stay comfortable throughout the year.

In fact, according to the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), cooling and heating alone account for an estimated 48% of annual household energy use in the US.

What You Can Do

Some homeowners feel a moral obligation to conserve energy due to the effect that home energy use has on the environment. Others are attracted to sustainability because they want to protect the environment for future generations. Whatever your motivations are for conserving energy, there’s a lot you can do at home.

One of the best places to start is with energy saving upgrades like air sealing and insulation. These weatherization upgrades keep outside temperatures from influencing indoor comfort, so you can rely on your heating and cooling systems less to feel comfortable. Basement encapsulation and new windows and doors also offer impressive energy savings. An energy audit can help you determine which improvements your home needs.

Of course, you can also make the switch to clean solar energy. If you’re considering solar for your home, it’s important to first make your home as efficient as possible with the right energy efficiency upgrades.

Simple Financing for Your Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Have you been wanting to conserve more energy at home but worry about the cost of energy efficiency upgrades? Simple financing and rebates are available for your next project! Through Efficiency Maine, Maine homeowners can qualify for up to $3,500 or more in rebates when they complete home upgrades like air sealing and insulation. Plus, Efficiency Maine offers loans that allow you to spread the cost of your improvements over time. Conserving more energy at home has never been easier.

Want to learn more about how you can conserve more energy at home? Stay tuned for our upcoming blog series, The Future of Low Carbon Comfort: Home Performance, Heat Pumps & Solar + Storage!

Climate change is happening, but you can make your home more sustainable. Call 207-594-2244 or contact us to learn more about saving energy at home!

Conserve energy & protect the environment.

Schedule an energy audit to start saving energy 207-594-2244

This team of individuals was professional at all times. They set up barriers that kept the dust at a minimum. They conducted an air flow audit and cut the draft circulation from the outside in half by sealing cracks. They hauled out the old insulation and replaced it with blown in insulation with an R - 60 Value. They also did the rebate paperwork so that I could get my $1500.00 rebate from the state of Maine. I highly recommend Evergreen Home Performance!

Daniel B.

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

I made the mistake of NOT hiring this company last year when I bought and renovated my home. I have brought them in now and what a difference. This group knows what they are doing. They take a complete look at everything and believe they can make your home more energy efficient. They are very professional in the way they approach problems and solutions. And they find ways to save me money. Don't bother with anyone else. Bring Evergreen in before you do anything. Let them assess your issues and give you the right solutions.

Shaw

Owls Head

The folks at Evergreen did a great job fixing a rather major insulation problem in my house, which they helped identify with a great audit. When the work began, they were thorough, upbeat, and -- dare I say it -- efficient. I strongly recommend them.

Michael Williams

Led by Brian Robinson, the Evergreen Home Performance team just completed an insulation refit at my home. It was truly a great experience from start to finish, a period of time that was a fraction of the time that I originally anticipated due to the team's unbelievable work habits and professional knowledge of their tasks. As impressive were the communication skills and friendliness of each and every member of the team.

Anne W.

Rockport

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 has a professional and reliable team of people who do excellent work. If you want the best of the best in the area, select Evergreen to accomplish your insulation needs.

Mary E.

St. George

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 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

I used to spend winters in the bathtub because my house was so cold. This was my first winter roaming around my whole house comfortably. This even led me to decorate a little. My heating oil usage has been reduced by over a quarter: I rarely have to boost the thermostat because the temp stays at a constant. The Efficiency Maine rebates, together with the energy savings, make it affordable for me to pay for the loan I took out to finance the project. I do not worry about my pipes freezing.

Claire Helene Bevan

Camden

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

I highly recommend Evergreen! 1st, I had a home efficiency inspection (that was free) & Bryan P. was great! He took the time needed, asked & listened to what I thought were priorities, explained clearly what he thought were priorities & why, then gave me numerous options. No pressure whatsoever. Then I had my attic sealed & insulated as the 1st step & Bryan came along on day 1 to introduce everyone & make sure we were all on the same page. Bruce's team (inc. Kelsey & Roland) did the work - they were exceptional!!

Melissa M.

Kennebunk

Evergreen came out 2 years ago to do an assessment and insulate our roof. This year we had them come back and do the basement as well. They are hands-down the best crew we've ever hired to work on our house. They are experts at what they do, and super meticulous in their work. After working in our house for a week with blown insulation, there was no trace they were ever here. We've seen a huge decrease in our energy bills while at the same time the house has become way more comfortable. Can't recommend them enough.

RC Lations II

Portland

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

Really great experience from start to finish with Evergreen. They helped us prioritize what needed to be completed first, and has made a significant difference in our hearing costs already. Plus they were really friendly and considerate to work with!

Amy W.

Kennebunk

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