Energy audits show that Maine houses lose more winter heat through air leaks than any other causes and that, of the 477,000 homes in the state, over 90 percent would benefit greatly from weatherization.
These homes consume on average about 1000 gallons of heating oil per year but research shows that the average Maine house could save over 45 percent of this energy cost by employing simple, do-it-yourself weatherization techniques.
The staff at Midcoast Green Collaborative in Damariscotta report they have been inundated with an ever increasing demand for information and requests for energy audits. What exactly do energy audits entail?
After examining the home owner’s fuel and electric bills, the auditor undertakes a thorough inspection of the entire house, locating and labeling air leaks, holes and cracks in every room from attic to basement, including floors, foundations, crawl spaces, walls and windows.
Instruments record the location of hot and cold air leaks, peer inside the building’s structure to determine the presence or absence of insulation and moisture inside walls, ceilings and between floors, interior temperature data, etc.
Depending on the size and complexity of the house, an audit normally takes about two hours from start to finish.
A week or so later, the home owner receives a detailed report of six to seven pages listing the exact amount of heat loss, energy use, and weatherization remedies such as caulking, sealing and adding insulation as well as estimated dollar savings from implementing the recommendations.
Paul Kando and Topher Belknap, MGC’s staff auditors will lead a discussion and answer questions on energy audits at 5:30 p.m. on Tues., Nov. 25 at the Skidompha Library on Main Street, Damariscotta.
This event is part of a series of talks on sustainable living presented by Midcoast Green Collaborative and co-sponsored by Skidompha.
Admission and snacks (provided by Rising Tide Market) are free and the public is cordially invited. For further information about this and other MGC programs as well as scheduling an energy audit log on to www.midcoastgreencollaborative.org.
