Community Partners Participates in Efficiency Maine Rebate Program

As a nonprofit in Northern New England, Community Partners, Inc. (CPI) is always looking for ways to save energy costs on the properties we own and rent where we support people with developmental disabilities. Thanks to the Efficiency Maine weatherization program, we were able to make significant energy improvements to two of our homes in Southern Maine.

CPI contracted with an energy auditor, Well Home, to visit four of our houses to complete a whole home audit. These audits determined that two of the homes would be an excellent fit for the rebate program. The first home, a four-bedroom 1,942 square foot single story duplex in Saco, was built in 1974.  

Well Home’s energy audit included a blower door test to check for leaks through small gaps and crevices, which can be as much as 25% in a typical home. They determined the air infiltration was quite high and proposed air sealing in the attic, exterior doors, and tightening the overall shell. Other areas of concern were the insulation levels and proper vents in the attic. They also recommended installing programmable thermostats.  

CPI contracted with Well Home to complete the weatherization project, and thanks to the Efficiency Maine Program, Community Partners received rebates to cover approximately 70% of the project costs. Best of all, our estimated energy savings on the Saco duplex is 32% per year.

The second home, a 2,656 square foot two-story farmhouse, was built in 1910. Not surprisingly, Well Home’s energy audit and blower door test determined excessive air leaks. They proposed 16 hours of air sealing, concentrating in the attic, basement, and around the exterior doors and chimneys.

Well Home also recommended adding cellulose insulation in the attic and closed cell spray foam in the basement to create an air and moisture barrier. Well Home completed the weatherization, and thanks to the Efficiency Maine Program, CPI received rebates to cover approximately 70% of the project costs. Best of all, the estimated energy savings is 49% per year at this turn-of –the-century farmhouse!

Based on these annual estimates, CPI expects to see a full return on our investment within a relatively short period of time. The important goals of saving energy, reducing our costs, and helping the environment are all part of our mission. But our larger focus is to make our homes more comfortable for the people we support who live there.

Efficiency Maine is funded through the system benefit charge included in electricity rates, the regional greenhouse gas initiative and federal grants.