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ENERGY SAVING SOLUTIONS
Osher Environment Systems staff and subcontractors are dedicated, experienced specialists.
We identify the heating envelope of your building and evaluate the most cost efficient improvements to lower your energy cost. As your general contractor we design and coordinate these sometimes complex changes for you, making sure everything is done correctly at the lowest cost possible.
Below are the various methods used to make your home energy efficient. You may need one or more of the below solutions to generate maximum savings.
air sealing
Air Sealing
Air Sealing is the specialized work of closing up penetrations in your heating envelope that allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter. Reducing the amount of air leaking into and out of your home is the most cost effective way of cutting heating and cooling bills. To air seal doors, we make sure that they close tightly, replace or upgrade gaskets, install sweeps and caulk gaps in framing and trim. Air sealing windows includes making sure they close tightly, installing or replacing locks, caulking gaps around the windows and between walls and trim. In basements and attics, our air sealing crews use the right materials to close openings. Common penetrations in the heating envelop include tops of plumbing chases, gaps around chimneys and connections between the original structure and later additions. Common air sealing materials are spray foam, caulk, metal flashing, wood, and foam boards. In addition to the economic benefit of air sealing, closing gaps in the heating envelope transforms a drafty home into a cozy home.
Spray Foam Insulation
We recommend the installation of closed cell spray foam to insulate foundation walls and sills in basements and crawlspaces. Where buildings are built on piers, we recommend the construction of pressure treated skirting and application of spray foam from the sills to the base of the skirting. Insulation below the first floor will reduce heating cost by at least 20% on most residential properties. An added benefit of spray foam is that when applied in thicknesses of at least 2”, it serves as an effective moisture barrier.
Cellulose Insulation
We recommend the installation of cellulose in attics and attic slopes. Cellulose is an excellent insulator. In attics over flat ceilings (pictured here), blown cellulose is our preferred product. We advise our clients to increase the R value of their attic flats to R=60 with blown cellulose. The cost per square foot for application of cellulose makes it a great investment. Homes with well insulated attics cost less to heat in the winter and are more comfortable in the summer. In living spaces with sloped ceilings, we recommend the installation of densely packed cellulose between the ceiling and the underside of the roof decking.
Repairs
From finish carpentry to landscaping, Osher Environment Systems will help you to repair and upgrade your home. On the residential property pictured here, OES removed moisture damaged wooden siding, repaired rotted underlayment and prepared the exterior walls for new siding. Our electrician upgraded the wiring of the exterior electrical outlets and light fixtures. OES carpenters installed Typar and new, pre-primed siding. OES improved the gutters, downspouts and run-outs to keep rainwater off the new clapboards and to route precipitation away from the home’s foundation.
Heating System Installation & Upgrades
We evaluate the efficiency of your existing heating systems and provide recommendations for upgrades or replacements. Our team includes specialists in heat pump, natural gas, wood pellet, wood stove and propane system installations. Whatever you choose our team can install it for you.
Window/Door Replacement
If you need new windows and/or doors, our team includes finish carpenters who can help you select the best product and install them quickly and efficiently. We have installed new exterior doors on basements with uncommon sized doorways and we repair (rather than replace) windows in historic homes.
Weatherization
Weatherization involves making changes to a building’s exterior and interior to lower heating and cooling costs, to protect the building from the elements, and ensure proper building moisture levels, tightness and ventilation. Weatherization reduces energy consumption, optimizes energy efficiency, lowers maintenance costs and extends the life of building components.
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In Maine, heating and cooling of building represents 40% of all energy consumed!!! Improving the efficiency of your home is a giant step towards saving money, living more comfortably and doing something good for the planet. Osher Environment Systems has many Energy Saving Solutions to help you improve the efficiency of your home.
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