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

I was extremely pleased with the professionalism and quality of service that I received from the Evergreen team. I met Richard to discuss options for insulation. I knew immediately that I wanted to do business with them because he did not try to over-sell extra services that I did not need. Dave was the project manager. He was not only kind, but very respectful of my home. I would highly recommend this company.

Darlyann M

Bath

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

Nothing but good things to say. The guys that came and did the actual work were extremely nice and did a great job. The energy audit was thorough and I was presented with multiple improvement options, I was even given ideas for improvement that Evergreen didn't offer. I never felt like I was being "sold".

Ryan Adams

Evergreen listened and produced a thoughtful evaluation, proposal and comprehensive plan for our attic and basement. They exhibited excellent workmanship, teamwork, and came back as planned after the completion of the job to test the outcomes. Their overall performance as insulation and home improvement contractors is truly outstanding and we highly recommend them.

Susan S.

Saco

Evergreen is the "go-to" company for improving the efficiency of your home. There are others to choose from but none so effective, honest, and capable as Evergreen. They did a great quantity of dense packing cellulose to improve our home (both for energy efficiency and for sound insulation) and it was totally successful. They are on-time, helpful, and caring. They clean up to a level that can't be over emphasized. This was the second time we employed them and we'd use them again if the opportunity came. You'll not be sorry to select Evergreen.

Dirk F.

Belfast

Evergreen completed the work at my home thoroughly and professionally. An inspector from Efficiency Maine came to inspect afterwards and described it as "state of the art" and "outstanding". The crew was very pleasant and considerate during the project. Their cleanup each day was perfect. Communications with the office were easy and reliable. I am very satisfied.

Catherine H.

South Portland

Evergreen has just completed Phase 2 of 2 at my home. They are professional, hard-working and courteous. They communicate well..no surprises. They've gone above and beyond to make my home comfortable and were very respectful of my home.I recommend them unequivocally!!!Many thanks to Brian, Brian, Rick, Eddie, Dawson and the rest of the Evergreen crew!!

David Henry Feldman

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

John Brown

Great job installing windows and insulation.

Bob S.

Rockland

Great team!

George S.

Bath

Evergreen did an amazing job insulating our historic home. Their professional staff worked hard to ensure the tough areas in the attic were covered, and clearly communicated their progress. We are seeing the results with our discounted heating bills. Thank you, Evergreen!

Melissa Knoll

Portland

Highly recommended. Our heating usage is now less than half what it was before we had our roof insulated. Evergreen was knowledgeable, friendly, and left no trace they were ever in our house. Not only is our heating bill much lower now, but our home is generally more comfortable year-round with less temperature fluctuations. Money well spent.

RC Lations

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

Professional, friendly and hard-working staff. The product/approach they use for insulation is top notch. We felt the difference immediately, both from added warmth and eliminating drafts. The team and management were easily available to answer our questions or coordinate meeting times. Highly recommended.

Kevin J.

Yarmouth

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

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