Efficiency Maine offers rebates for home weatherization products
MAINE, USA — Efficiency Maine launched its new program Wednesday to raise awareness about resources that can help Mainers get through the cold winter season by managing their heating bills.
The company's "DIY Winter Prep Rebate" offers a limited-time $100 reimbursement to homeowners and tenants in Maine for purchasing home winterization items such as caulk, weather stripping, spray foam sealant, duct sealing, tank wrap, window insulation shrink kits, pipe and duct insulation, and foam board insulation, a news release from Efficiency Maine said.
According to the release, "The promotion covers eligible purchases made from October 1, 2022, to December 31, 2022," the release states.
“Small investments to tighten up your home for the winter months can make a big difference,” Gov. Janet Mills said in the release. “This new program from Efficiency Maine will help even more Maine people weatherize their homes this winter to save money and stay warm. I encourage homeowners and renters to take advantage of this incentive over the coming weeks and months.”
“With winter just around the corner, we want to remind Mainers that by weatherizing your house or apartment you can reduce your energy use, increase your comfort, and lower your bills,” Michael Stoddard, executive director of the Efficiency Maine Trust, said in the release. “While it is typical to employ a professional contractor to perform major weatherization projects, this promotion recognizes that there are plenty of smaller, low-cost steps that we can install ourselves with the right materials from the local hardware store.”
For more information about the rebate program, and to file a claim to receive the home winterization rebate, click here.
September in Maine: It's Time to Get Ready for the Cold The air is getting crisp, the days are getting shorter, and that first real chill of September is a reminder that winter is right around the corner. If you're anything like us, you're not exactly looking forward to those high heating bills. You’re probably picturing a drafty living room, cold floors, and that thermostat you keep nudging higher and higher just to feel comfortable. But what if you didn't have to? This isn't about just surviving another Maine winter; it’s about thriving. It’s about being truly comfortable in your own home, without the constant stress of watching your energy costs climb. The secret? Proper insulation and air sealing. Investing in your home's insulation now is the smartest thing you can do. It’s like putting money in the bank. You spend a little up front to save a lot later. We’ve seen it time and again—homeowners can slash their energy consumption by as much as half. Imagine what you could do with that extra cash every month. Our Solutions for a Warmer, Cozier Home At Mattra, we know what a Maine winter demands. That’s why we offer solutions that actually work. Closed Cell Spray Foam - This is our top-tier solution, and it’s a game-changer for a home’s efficiency. When applied, this foam expands into a dense, rigid material that creates an incredible air and moisture barrier. We use it to seal crawl spaces, basements, and exterior walls. Think about that cold basement feeling—spray foam completely eliminates it. By sealing those critical areas, you prevent a tremendous amount of heat loss and stop cold, damp air from entering your living space. This is more than just insulation; it's a complete building envelope upgrade that also adds structural integrity and helps prevent moisture issues and mold growth. It's the ultimate defense against the Maine elements. Blown-In Cellulose - Made from recycled paper products, blown-in cellulose is one of the most eco-friendly insulation options available. We use a powerful hose to blow the material into attics and enclosed wall cavities. The tiny paper fibers pack together to form a seamless blanket of insulation, leaving no gaps for air to escape. It's especially effective in attics, where heat naturally rises and escapes. A properly insulated attic can be the single biggest factor in lowering your heating costs. Beyond its thermal performance, cellulose also has excellent sound-dampening qualities, making your home quieter and more peaceful by blocking out exterior noise. Dense Packing Walls - For older homes that were built without any wall insulation—a common issue in Maine—dense packing is a perfect solution. Instead of tearing down all your interior walls, we can drill small holes and inject cellulose or other materials directly into the wall cavities. This fills every empty space behind your drywall or plaster. The material is packed in so tightly that it significantly reduces drafts and heat loss. It's a non-invasive way to bring an old home's energy performance up to modern standards, drastically improving comfort and saving you money without the mess and high cost of a full renovation. Targeted Air Sealing - Insulation is only half the battle. You could have the best insulation in the world, but if air is leaking in and out of your home, you're still wasting energy. We specialize in using foam to meticulously air seal the two biggest culprits for drafts: your basement and your attic. We target the penetrations where pipes, wires, and framing meet, which are often the main pathways for air leakage. By sealing these critical areas, we prevent the "stack effect," where warm air rises and escapes from the top of your house, pulling cold air in from the bottom. Sealing these areas with foam is a fundamental step that makes all other insulation work more effectively, ensuring your home holds onto the heat you’re paying for. This Is Where It Gets Even Better: Rebates! As a licensed vendor with Efficiency Maine , we can help you access substantial rebates for your weatherization project. This isn't just a small discount—we're talking about real money that makes a huge difference. You are entitled to at least $4,000 in rebates for your project, with the potential for even more depending on your income. We will personally guide you through the process, ensuring you receive every dollar you're entitled to from these incredible programs. This makes an already smart financial decision an absolute no-brainer. Don't wait for winter to sneak up on you. Let's make this year different. Reach out to us at Mattra today for a free consultation. We’d love to help you make your home the comfortable, energy-efficient sanctuary it should be.
That musty smell. The faint water stains on your attic ceiling. Maybe you’ve even spotted some unwelcome dark spots. If you’re a Maine homeowner, especially in our older homes, these could be signs of a serious problem brewing in your attic: condensation leading to mold growth. It's a more common issue than you might think, and it can have significant consequences for your home’s health and your wallet. Why is your Maine attic suddenly feeling like a rainforest? The culprit is often a perfect storm of factors we see frequently here at Mattra: a lack of proper air sealing and insufficient insulation. Think of your warm, humid indoor air rising into the colder attic space. Without proper air barriers, this warm, moisture-laden air sneaks through cracks and openings around wiring, plumbing, and light fixtures. Once this warm, moist air hits the cold surfaces in your uninsulated attic – like the roof sheathing – it cools rapidly. Just like water beading on a cold glass on a summer day, this cooling air releases its excess moisture in the form of condensation. And in a Maine winter, those surfaces stay cold for a long time! Several other common issues exacerbate this problem. That uninsulated attic hatch? It’s a direct pathway for warm, humid air to escape. An uninsulated chimney acts as another cold surface where condensation can form. And those bathroom and dryer vents that aren’t properly ducted to the outside? They’re pumping even more moisture directly into your attic – a recipe for disaster. So, what happens when all this condensation builds up? That’s where mold enters the picture. Mold spores are everywhere, both indoors and out. They thrive in damp, dark environments with organic materials to feed on – like the wood in your attic. Consistent condensation provides the perfect breeding ground. As mold grows, it doesn't just create unsightly stains and that telltale musty odor. It actively deteriorates the materials it grows on. Over time, mold can weaken the structural integrity of your roof sheathing and rafters, leading to costly repairs. It can also damage any stored items in your attic. Beyond the structural damage, mold growth can also impact your indoor air quality. Mold spores can become airborne and circulate throughout your home, potentially triggering allergic reactions, asthma symptoms, and other respiratory issues for you and your family. As a licensed vendor with Efficiency Maine , we understand the importance of a healthy home environment. The good news? These attic issues are often fixable! Proper air sealing prevents that warm, humid air from entering the attic in the first place. Adequate insulation helps maintain a more consistent temperature in the attic, reducing those cold surfaces where condensation forms. Insulating the attic hatch and chimney are crucial details often overlooked. And ensuring your bathroom and dryer vents are correctly ducted to the exterior is essential for removing excess moisture from your home. Addressing attic condensation and mold growth is an investment in your home's long-term health and your family's well-being. If you suspect you have an issue in your Maine attic, don't wait for the problem to worsen. Contact the experts at Mattra right here in Lewiston. We can assess your attic, identify the sources of condensation, and recommend the best solutions for mold remediation and preventing future problems through proper air sealing and insulation. Protecting your Maine home starts from the top down!
