Weatherization: 5 Questions Answered by a Home Performance Expert
Matt Damon, co-founder of Penobscot Home Performance, has crawled into basements, climbed into attics and inspected every inch of Maine homes for over fifteen years. He measures insulation, looks for air leaks or excess moisture and evaluates windows, doors and safety systems. His goal? To weatherize and make Maine homes warmer, drier, less costly to operate, comfortable - and more energy efficient.
Heating, cooling, and lighting of buildings are responsible for almost one-third of Maine's greenhouse gas emissions. Improperly insulated homes waste energy. Allowing heated air to leak out and moist air in can make homes more expensive to heat and cool - and can cause health and safety hazards. Improving insulation, sealing leaks and updating appliances and systems makes homes more energy efficient and help reduce Maine’s greenhouse gas emissions. It also directly supports Maine Won’t Wait climate plan’s building modernization goals, such as 35,000 homes and businesses weatherized by 2030.
Prior to starting Penobscot Home Performance with Paul Shepherd in 2008, Matt performed energy audits for low-income households with Penquis Community Action Program. Previous general contractor experience helped Matt recognize - and fill - a gap in executing the recommendations he provided during energy audits. Today, Matt’s certifications include Certified Energy Advisor, Building Analyst, Lead Smart Renovator and Maine State Energy Auditor.
We tapped Matt’s expertise to answer five common questions about weatherizing homes. Find rebates, loans and home efficiency calculators here.
- What does weatherizing a home mean and what does it entail?
Weatherizing a home means making a home more comfortable, healthy, safe, and energy efficient. Everyone should feel safe and comfortable in their home, especially now that many folks are spending more time in their homes. The top priorities are buttoning up a house by sealing air leaks and adding insulation, especially in attics and basements. It's also vital to look beyond insulation and air-sealing. A house is really a system with lots of parts working together, much like the Earth - which is why our industry uses the term Home Performance. When you change one component of the house it affects the whole system. That's why we look at all systems of the home (heating, water heating, ventilation, appliances, lighting) to ensure they are working together to keep people safe and comfortable. Moisture and indoor air quality are the real biggies in terms of safety, health, and building durability and longevity. - How does weatherizing impact a home’s efficiency?
A buttoned-up, well-insulated home loses less air - and uses less fossil fuels to heat. Our customers often see 25-50% reduced fuel use. Some have even cut fuel use by up to 75%. The less oil a home uses means less carbon emissions created. - What is the first step?
Scheduling a home energy audit. This is when a certified energy advisor visits your home and performs various tests to provide a baseline of your home’s performance and improvements. Energy audit levels and tests vary and can include an infrared scan test to locate insulation inconsistencies and a blower door test, which uses a powerful fan to measure and identify where heat and air is escaping. Doors, windows, appliances, lighting and health and safety systems may also be assessed. A detailed report with prioritized improvements and potential savings can follow. - Why is this energy audit and assessment helpful?
It can quantify and pinpoint things like where air and heat are leaking. It’s often an ‘aha moment’ for homeowners to see why some rooms or floors seem colder in winter and warmer in summer months. A certified energy advisor can advise on the top things you can do to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable, along with the costs, savings benefits and available rebates. - What types of financial benefits do these upgrades provide?
Weatherizing and improving home performance can provide added value to a home. If you have two homes - one which is airtight with good insulation, and one that is leaky - the airtight, efficient house is likely going to have a higher value. The biggest savings often come from air sealing and buttoning up homes. It’s the fastest way to make a home more comfortable and see the biggest payback.
Visit Efficiency Maine for insulation rebates, weatherization FAQs and certified contractor guides.