BANGOR, Maine — It’s something the Ludwigs had been talking about, promising they would do and putting on their to-do list for a decade.
But the life expenses of new cars, college tuition for two children, home or auto repairs and doctor bills always made it easier to move insulating and winterizing their 80-year-old house farther back on that to-do list.
“There was always something more important to pay for,” said Mike Ludwig of Bangor. “It’s an old house, so we also wanted to get the wiring redone and we figured we should do that before the insulation.”
Ten years of procrastination finally came to an end this summer, however, thanks to the Efficiency Maine home energy savings program. The federal government program, funded by a stimulus grant from the American Recovery and Investment Act, provides up to $3,000 cash and an additional $1,500 in federal tax credits for home winterization projects that save at least 25 percent or more in annual heating and energy expenses.
“When I found out about this tax credit, which at the time was expiring at the end of August, I figured it would be idiotic not to do it,” Ludwig said. “It’s $3,000, plus a $1,000 bonus with a 30 percent tax credit on materials.”
The program is two-tiered: Homeowners whose energy audits show an efficiency improvement of 25 percent to 49 percent yearly can get a 30 percent rebate on the cost of weatherization up to $1,500. Tier II is up to $3,000 if the test shows 50 percent or better efficiency improvement.
“You’re crazy if you don’t take advantage of this,” said Mike Ludwig. “I’m telling everybody about it.”
That’s fine with Kevin Bernier, division manager for Penquis Home Performance, the local entity administrating and executing Efficiency Maine projects locally.
“Typically, most houses are in Tier I territory. I would say the overall average improvement is 30 to 35 percent,” Bernier said. “We’ve seen at least a 50 to 75 percent increase in our business since this program began.
“We’re pretty busy. We’re probably involved with about 20 projects at the current time.”
Those projects run the gamut from simple weather-stripping and caulking gaps or holes in foundations, walls, doors and windows to foundation work, blown insulation and installing sheetrock ceilings.
The Ludwigs are having almost all of that done as part of their $6,300 home insulation project.
“They’re sealing drafts with caulk and expanding foam, insulating three to four feet from the sill plate down around the perimeter of the cellar, and putting about 9 inches of blown insulation in the walls and the attic,” Mike Ludwig said. “On the second floor, we have tile ceilings which have a lot of gaps so they’re putting sheetrock over them.”
The Ludwigs took out a home improvement loan, but it won’t take long to pay that off.
“I’m spending $1,400 for $6,300 of work,” said Mike Ludwig, an insurance sales officer for Bangor Savings Bank.
There was also the $300 home energy audit (price depends on size of house) used to determine the percentage of energy savings realized by insulating and winterizing the house.
“We measure pressure with a manometer and air flow with the door blower,” said Bernier. “I can pretty much tell right down to the square inch how much leakage there is in a home.”
The door blower test will be repeated this week to demonstrate the improvement in the house’s energy efficiency now that the two-week project is completed.
“That was really worth it. It’s amazing to see and hear all the air that’s coming in and going out of the house from all these places you never realized,” said Amy Ludwig. “I’ve already noticed that noises from outside and in the house are less loud.
“It’s exciting to know that it’s going to be all tightened up and so much more fuel-efficient.”
Amy Ludwig, who works for Penquis Child Development (not related to Penquis Home Performance), is particularly excited about a fringe benefit of the project.
“For me, it all started with the windows,” she said. “We’re saving enough to buy replacement windows, so I’m not going to put plastic on the inside of the windows again this winter.”
The fact they may cut their fuel oil consumption by as much as 200 gallons is no small reason for excitement, either.
“We used 550 gallons last winter. What really tipped it for me was the [Gulf of Mexico] oil spill,” said Mike Ludwig. “That made me want to do everything I can to get off our dependence on oil. I can’t convert totally to pellets or wind power, but I can do something to use less oil.”
More information on winterizing services and the Efficiency Maine program can be found online at www.efficiencymaine.com or by calling Bernier at 659-4980.
Other tips for energy savings and winterization may be found at energy efficiency workshops throughout the state.
Public workshops will be held in Lewiston 3-5 p.m. Oct. 24 at Trinity Episcopal Church; Machias 1-3 p.m. Nov. 7, St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church; Belfast 2-4 p.m. Nov. 14, St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church; and Bangor 10 a.m.-noon Nov. 10, Redeemer Lutheran Church.