Sustainable Remodeling: Enhancing Comfort & Efficiency

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Sustainable remodeling is the process of renovating a home in a way that minimizes its environmental impact, which can be done by using sustainable materials and finding ways to conserve energy.

At Evergreen Home Performance, we believe that homes should be beautiful, comfortable, functional, and sustainable. With our expertise, we can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency, reduce your environmental impact, and save on your energy bills. We can even help you plan your home upgrades to get the most out of federal and local incentives and make your dream, green home in MidCoast Maine more affordable!

Start With an Energy Audit

When you’re remodeling your home for energy efficiency, it’s important to know where it needs improvement before you get started. A free energy assessment  from Evergreen Home Performance takes the guesswork out of home upgrades by giving you a big-picture understanding of your home’s performance.

We use specialized tools like infrared imaging and blower door testing to evaluate your home’s insulation and discover any significant air leaks that contribute to energy loss and inconsistent temperatures. When the analysis is complete, our team will give you a detailed proposal for our recommended services so you can plan your path forward.

How to Remodel for Energy Efficiency

There are several home upgrades we offer at Evergreen Home Performance that can improve the energy efficiency and comfort of your home. Here are just a few of the services we provide to help with your sustainable remodel:

Insulation Removal

Typical fiberglass insulation degrades over time and can be contaminated by pollutants such as mold, making it less effective and even harmful to your indoor air quality. It’s important to remove old insulation before installing new insulation—especially if it is damaged—because it can affect the performance of your upgrade.

Not sure if you need insulation removal in your home? Here are some signs to look out for:

  • Your insulation has been wet
  • There was a fire in your home
  • You have had a pest infestation
  • Your insulation is old and contains contaminants, like asbestos

Attic Insulation Upgrades

Your attic significantly contributes to your comfort and efficiency. Without proper attic insulation your home is susceptible to ice dams in the winter, high energy bills, and several other issues. Adding insulation to your attic is one of the most cost-effective ways to increase your home’s energy efficiency because it works to stabilize the temperatures within your home. Insulation creates a barrier between your living space and the outdoors and even lessens the wear and tear on your HVAC equipment, making your heating and cooling more efficient as well.

Basement Insulation, Encapsulation, & Leakage

Because your basement is the foundation of your home, it’s exposed to moisture, potential air quality issues, and even structural damage. Cracks and holes in your foundation can lead to pests and harmful contaminants like mold or radon finding their way into your living spaces. As warm air rises up and out of your home it gets replaced with air from its lower levels, so the contaminants found in your basement air will eventually get distributed throughout your home.

Adding basement insulation along the walls can help keep the area protected from the elements. Some basements also struggle with high humidity and moisture levels and insulation alone won’t solve the issue. In these cases, we recommend basement encapsulation to help control moisture and prevent unwanted air leakage. By installing drainage and a vapor barrier in addition to spray foam insulation, your basement will be airtight, reinforced, and safe from moisture, radon, and other pollutants.

Whole Home Road Map from Evergreen Home Performance

Sometimes remodeling your home is overwhelming and expensive—that’s why we offer planning services to help you with a Whole Home Road Map so you can phase in energy efficiency upgrades at your own pace and budget. Using a phased approach not only allows you to break down each upgrade into manageable sections, but it also helps you maximize your savings with incentives!

At Evergreen Home Performance, we stay up to date with what rebates and incentives are available in MidCoast Maine, and part of our Whole Home Road Map process includes planning and phasing in upgrades so you can get the most out of Efficiency Maine rebates.

Are you ready to get started with your sustainable remodel?

Schedule your energy audit today. Call 207-594-2244 or contact us online.

Want your dream green home?

Call Evergreen Home Performance! 207-594-2244

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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 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

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 who installed insulation in my attic were fantastic! They were very professional, worked exceedingly hard, and they did an excellent job. They were very pleasant and friendly to be around. They cleaned up beautifully after each work day, and left my home in great shape on when they walked out the door for the last time. I can't believe they were able to accomplish all that they did with heat soaring into the 80s and 90s. It was pretty unbearable up there! They have my highest praise and my gratitude.

Cynthia F.

South Portland

Our basement was the eyesore of the house. I wanted to make improvements, but first needed to make structural, insulating and moisture mitigation improvements. Evergreen was professional and competent in taking on a complex project of not only encapsulation and insulation of basement and crawlspace, but completed needed improvements to the structural integrity of the wood floor platform above a crawlspace and brought in a concrete contractor to pour where there was once a rotting, tiered wood platform - replacing that area with a more functional and tight tiered concrete area.

Duane B.

East Boothbay

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

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

Several years ago Brian Robinson evaluated the crawl space at my summer home on Islesboro where I knew moisture was becoming a problem. I had done quite a bit of work in the space many years prior with mixed results. When Brian offered some suggestions, they were ideas that incorporated work previously done, and would be a relatively low cost effort to improve the situation. He offered this advice over several phone conversations of some length, informally, and at no charge.

Cliff R.

Islesboro

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

I waited a year to write this review. Evergreen finished our job late last winter. Terrific results!!! we've gone from 12-day propane deliveries to 30+ day propane deliveries. The house is noticeably warmer. The Evergreen crew was/is professional, prompt, thorough, scientific, gracious and immaculate with respect to keeping our house clean. Money well spent.

John E.

Boothbay

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

The Evergreen Team did a fabulous job, well exceeding our expectations, In just over a week they transformed our very drafty, noisy 213 year old house into a snug, draft-free, quiet haven with warm floors! The team was prompt, did everything they said they'd do and more. We are thrilled!

Trudy M.

Bridgton

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

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

Last week, my oil company asked if we were using some other kind of fuel because our usage was so much less than they had expected We are very happy with the results; the house is much more comfortable

Steve T.

St. George

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

190 Riverside St, #2A,
Portland, ME 04103

315 Main Street, #205,
Rockland, ME 04841

207-358-3706

info@evergreenyourhome.com