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

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 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

Evergreen removed and replaced the insulation in my attic. They did a great job!, Crew was excellent, and the whole thing went smoothly, and the attic was NOT easy to get into or work in, so kudos to some hard work done well!

Joel A.

Portland

We are thrilled with the job Evergreen did to transform our 213 year old home into a warm, draft-free, cozy space. The entire team led by Bruce was prompt, courteous, knowledgeable, and hard working. If Evergreen could transform our home in this way, we are sure they would make a comparable difference in YOUR home!

Jonathan M.

Bridgton

Evergreen was so helpful in securing us Efficiency Maine funding for a big attic insulation project early this winter. They did all of the paperwork, and totally guided us through a vermiculite removal process that included a payment from a trust for the procedure. I could instantly feel the second floor being so much warmer than before. The boiler does not kick on nearly as frequently since they completed the job. It was worth every penny! Brian Robinson was so thorough throughout the whole process including a full walk through after the job had been completed.

Todd W.

Camden

I am very pleased with my experience with Evergreen Home Performance. I met several times with Richard Burbank and he was very detailed in his explanations to all of my questions. He provided me with several options for improving the insulation to our home. The team of installers were very professional and respectful of our home. They did a great job of cleaning up every day after the days work and they were also very responsive to all my questions as well as we collaborated to get our home better insulated. It was a pleasure to work with Richard and…

Brian C.

Falmouth

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

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

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

We needed basement encapsulation to stop moisture coming up into the house from our regularly flooding basement. We had mold growing on windowsills and furniture. All the staff were friendly, respectful of our home, and easy to work with. Humidity has gone from 70% down to 40% and mold has not grown back after two months. Very grateful.

Sarah C.

Belfast

My husband and I bought a home on the water in Owls Head and decided to make the investment in Evergreen's recommendations for insulation. Brian Robinson spent 3 hours examining every nook and cranny before he made practical suggestions and explained them thoroughly to us.

Marie McNeely

Owls Head

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

I cant say enough about this company and the benefits that it created for our family. They are very professional and have effectively re-insulated our home. The heating bill proves the point.

Bob O.

Springvale

Great team!

George S.

Bath

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