What’s the ROI?

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Homeowners considering energy efficiency projects ask a lot of the same questions.

  • Will this really make our house more comfortable?
  • How much will it save us on energy bills?
  • And most importantly, what’s the return on our investment?

Until recently, that last question has been a sticking point for many would-be retrofitters.  Sure, most banks can’t match the 10-year ROI an energy upgrade provides, and sure, rising oil prices might mean you recoup your original investment even faster, but plenty of homeowners believe that investing in energy efficiency only makes sense if they plan to be in their current home for at least ten years.  If they might move – well, there’s no way to be sure that potential buyers will appreciate the decidedly unsexy air sealing and insulation.  (That’s why so many home performance pros say their biggest competitors aren’t other insulators – they’re kitchen remodelers.)

Enter the Appraisal Institute. The leading association of real estate appraisers has published the Residential Green and Energy Efficient Addendum to help appraisers quantify energy upgrades that might otherwise go unnoticed. It also assists appraisers in analyzing residential green features and properties.

There are sections for insulation, water efficiency, Energy Star appliances and windows, day lighting, programmable thermostats, and solar panels. There prompts for HERS and LEED ratings, as well as to note energy audits and “work completed as a result of the audit.”  There’s even a section on location that gives extra credit to homes with passive solar orientation, natural landscaping, and walkable neighborhoods, and accessible public transportation.

This could help change everything.

Not right away, of course. An Efficiency First program on Getting Fair Value for Energy Efficient Homes noted the need to standardize the way we describe and document efficiency projects before we expect real estate brokers and homebuyers to understand their value. But brokers are interested, and there’s already a movement to Green the MLS so it’s easier to identify energy efficient homes within the multiple listing system.

Yes, we need to be careful: the last thing anyone wants is the kind of “green-washing” that’s resulted in “natural” junk food. 

But realistic, reliable information that gives homes credit for environmentally and financially beneficial features?  We’re bound to see an ROI on that.

Contact us today to learn more!

207-594-2244

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

I had gotten estimates from several other companies, but Evergreen was in another league entirely with their professionalism. If you want the job done correctly, I couldn't recommend this company enough.

Rayna Mayo

Freeport

We had Evergreen redo the insulation in our roof. The team handling our project did a great job. They left the house spotless. We've already noticed the difference in how much better our house is retaining heat. I would definitely recommend and will use them for future projects.

Ffej C.

South Portland

Evergreen is a terrific company to deal with. Polite and efficient crews, meeting deadlines and major reduction in our heat bills. They corrected a lot of issues we suffered from doing work with a shoddy building contractor. We would recommend them to anyone.

Mary Carey

Evergreen did a fantastic job insulating our 1930's home. The onsite team was professional, clean, and really just a joy to interact with throughout the process. A blower test at the end showed a significant decrease in air leakage. I highly recommend Evergreen.

Kristen H.

South 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

We had a fantastic experience working with Evergreen to insulate our roof this winter. Everyone was extremely friendly throughout the process - the crew at our home worked hard, were approachable with questions, and the team leader even showed me around the project to point out specific areas they were working to improve.

Joel Wentz

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

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

Evergreen Home Performance shows its expertise from start to finish. Evergreen did three house projects in winter/spring/summer 2020 for me, attic insulation, crawl space under a porch insulation, and basement foam/vapor barrier. From my initial discussion with Bryan, I understood the reasons for choosing different types of insulation, the associated costs, and time estimates. Evergreen scheduled in advance, came when they said they would, and the crews were highly professional in their work and demeanor.

Iris S.

Portland

We couldn't be more pleased with the easy, professional, high-value service from Evergreen. Having purchased an older home that had been in our family for generations, we needed multiple upgrades, including insulation throughout. Evergreen insulated our attic with blown-in cellulose, built a new, super-insulated attic hatch, sealed off the old one (which was just a piece of plywood in a closet ceiling), and also talked us through our best options to upgrade our heating system given the plans we have to add onto the house.

Tom G.

South Thomaston

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

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

Great company. Very professional and thorough. They take the time to explain everything and offer options to fit your budget. Wonderful experience from start to finish.

Bonnie Eustace

Evergreen came back this year to finish insulating our house. We have been remodeling and renovating an 1850s cape for several years. Their employees are very professional and pleasant to deal with. Over several years Brian Robinson has been able to schedule us in for several small areas that needed addressing and finally turning a room we used to close off in the winter into a comfortable usable space. We primarily heat with wood and since Evergreens great work our furnace has only come on ONCE this winter. Fantastic. Really satisfied customer in Thomaston.

Chris F.

Thomaston

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