Autumn is in full effect which means crisp leaves, warm beverages, and colder nights. As we gear up for a Maine winter, home insulation is key to ensuring you stay cozy and comfortable throughout the season. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of insulation, how to find a vendor in your area and rebates to reduce the costs of adding insulation to your home.

Why should I insulate my home?

When you insulate your home, you are adding material to your attic, ceilings, walls and basement to prevent heat from transferring between the inside and outside of your home. There are many benefits to insulation, such as:

1.) It saves you money: when you insulate your home, it will take less energy to keep your home warm — as no heat is escaping through walls or windows — lowering your heating costs.

2.) It keeps you comfortable: insulating your home not only keeps rooms warm and cozy in the winter but cooler in the summer, too.

3.) It’s better for the planet: as mentioned, when you improve the insulation in your home you are using less energy to heat your space. Due to not wasting any heat that is escaping to the outside of your home, and using less energy in general, your home is operating more efficiently.

If your home is heated by fuel, this means a reduction in fossil fuel consumption and emissions.

Finding a vendor

An important first step in adding insulation to your home is finding the right vendor. There are many different materials and processes when it comes to insulation, and a registered vendor will be able to recommend what insulation levels and materials will work best for your home.

In addition to information about the benefits of insulation and available rebates, Efficiency Maine’s website makes it easy to find a vendor in your area.

1.) Visit www.efficiencymaine.com/at-home/vendor-locator/.

2.) For Services choose “Insulation.”

3.) Enter your zip code.

4.) Search.

Once you find a vendor, search on Efficiency Maine’s website for rebates to lower the upfront costs of insulation.

Electrify Everything! and home weatherization

South Portland’s Electrify Everything! program also offers rebates on home weatherization measures, including insulation. Keep your home comfortable this winter at a reduced cost by taking advantage of these rebates.

Electrify Everything! is a city-sponsored rebate program to provide financial assistance in the switch from fuel-powered vehicles, lawn care and home heating and cooling to electric. Through ElectrifyEverything!, you can get up to $2,000 per household in rebates on top of Efficiency Maine and other rebates.

To learn more about the program, see current rebates and apply, visit www.southportland.org/electrify.

Our Sustainable City is a recurring column in the Sentry intended to provide residents with news and information about sustainability initiatives in South Portland. Follow the Sustainability Office on Instagram and Facebook @soposustainability.

Mia Ambroiggio is a part-time staff member in the South Portland Sustainability Office. She can be reached at mambroiggio@southportland.org.

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