Read the latest from the Evergreen team.

Are you living with one of the EPA’s list of top five environmental threats to public health?

The cost of home heating oil in Maine inched up again last week to an average of $3.76 per gallon, according to the Governor’s Energy Office, which reports that current prices are 25 cents per gallon higher than at the same time last year.

Remember that queasy feeling that came along with school report cards?  Well, brace yourself, Maine: ACEEE’s 2012 State Energy Scorecard is out, and the results will give you a bellyache.

There’s no doubt that a fuel bill like this is overwhelming: 750 gallons of oil, plus 6 cords of wood, plus all the electricity it took to power an inefficient old water heater.  The homeowners knew they needed to do something to control costs and make their home more affordable to live in long-term – but like many households, they didn’t know where to start.

The homes, commercial, and residential buildings in Maine are among the oldest in the country, and the architecture of these buildings helps define the character of New England’s towns.  Unfortunately, it also helps define our fuel bills.

If you want to make buildings more energy efficient, you have to understand how those buildings work.  That’s why Jessie Davis, a Building Analyst certified by the Building Performance Institute, was at the Island Institute’s Energy for ME Summer Institute

Beth and Jon have great plans for their Cape Elizabeth home, from kitchen renovations to the addition of a porch and an art studio.  “We have a 30-year plan,” explains Beth, “but having a manageable overhead is the first priority.  If we can cut our energy bills, the... Read more

The house Midcoast Habitat for Humanity is building in Thomaston, Maine will be more than a place to live for a local family in need.  It will be a sound home that’s affordable to heat and comfortable to live in, thanks to its energy efficiency design and construction.

Still thinking about your weekend plans?  Looking for something else to do during your 36-hours in Midcoast Maine?  Visit Evergreen Home Performance at the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show... Read more

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Case Studies

Matt and Christa knew that the home they had just purchased in the neighborhood they loved -- for the price they could afford -- was going to need a... Read More