After Your Energy Assessment: What Happens Next

A Scarborough homeowner sat at her kitchen table with our assessment report in front of her. She had three recommendations, two pages of cost estimates, and a list of rebates she might qualify for. She looked at the paper and asked the question we hear from nearly every homeowner at this stage: "Okay, so now what do I actually do?"

The gap between "I know what my house needs" and "I am scheduling the work" can feel wide. The report gives you information, but turning that information into action involves decisions about priorities, budget, timing, and rebates.

This guide walks through each step from assessment to completed work, so you know exactly what the process looks like and what decisions you need to make along the way.

Step 1: Review the Recommendations

Give yourself a day or two to sit with the report before making any decisions. Read through the recommendations, look at the cost ranges, and think about what matters most to you.

Consider:

Comfort vs. savings. Which recommendations address your biggest comfort complaints? If the second-floor bedrooms are freezing, attic insulation might be your first priority even if the report lists it alongside other improvements. If high fuel bills are the main concern, the recommendation with the biggest savings estimate might be your focus.

Budget reality. The report shows what the full project would cost and what each piece costs individually. You do not have to do everything at once. Most homeowners start with one or two improvements and add more over time.

Timeline. Some work is seasonal. Insulation and air sealing can be done year-round. Heat pump installation is best scheduled in spring or early summer for availability. Boiler replacement is ideal in the off-season (late spring through early fall) to avoid being without heat during a cold snap.

Step 2: Ask Questions

If anything in the report is unclear, call us. Common questions at this stage:

"What would you do first if this were your house?" Your advisor has a recommendation in the report, but hearing the reasoning behind it helps. In most Maine homes, the answer is attic air sealing and insulation - it delivers the biggest return and improves comfort in every room.

"Can I just do one thing this year?" Absolutely. Single-scope projects are common. Attic air sealing and insulation alone makes a meaningful difference. A cold-climate heat pump installation alone provides heating, cooling, and fuel savings. You do not need to commit to the whole list.

"What if my situation changes before I schedule?" Reports are valid for months. If you wait six months, we may need to update the estimate (material costs shift, rebate programs adjust), but the recommendations themselves rarely change. Your house is not going to develop new problems overnight.

"Can you explain the rebates in more detail?" Rebate programs have details that can be confusing. We walk you through exactly what applies to your project, what the income qualifications involve, and what your likely out-of-pocket cost will be.

Step 3: Choose Your Priorities

Once you have reviewed the report and asked any questions, decide what you want to do first. Here are the most common paths:

Path A: Start with Insulation and Air Sealing

This is the most common starting point and usually the best return on investment. Air sealing the attic floor and blowing in cellulose insulation to R-49 or higher addresses the biggest energy loss in most Maine homes.

Why start here:

• Typically the highest-impact, most cost-effective improvement
• Makes every room in the house more comfortable
• Reduces ice dam risk
• Lowers heating costs by 20-40% in poorly insulated homes
• Reduces the heating load, which means a future heat pump or boiler can be smaller and more efficient

Path B: Start with a Heating System Upgrade

If your boiler is 25+ years old, unreliable, or showing signs of failure, replacing the heating system might be the priority - especially heading into winter.

Why start here:

• An aging boiler is a reliability risk during Maine winters
• A condensing boiler operating at 95-97% AFUE saves 15-20% on fuel immediately
• Cold-climate heat pumps provide heating and cooling in one system
• Rebates on heat pumps can offset a significant portion of the cost

Path C: Whole-Home Project

Some homeowners want to address everything at once. This is often the most cost-effective approach because:

• We mobilize once instead of multiple times
• Insulation and heating system can be optimized together (proper sizing)
• Rebates can be stacked across insulation, air sealing, and heat pumps
• Financing covers the full project through one application
• You see the full benefit immediately instead of incrementally

Path D: Phase It Over Two to Three Years

This is the most common approach for homeowners who want to do everything but prefer to spread the cost:

• Year 1: Attic air sealing and insulation (highest priority, immediate comfort improvement)
• Year 2: Basement insulation and wall insulation (builds on year 1 improvements)
• Year 3: Heating system upgrade or heat pump addition (right-sized for the improved envelope)

Each phase stands on its own. You see benefits after every phase. And phasing across tax years lets you claim federal 25C credits in each year (annual limits apply).

Step 4: Get a Detailed Estimate

When you are ready to move forward - whether on one improvement or the full project - we provide a detailed, line-item estimate. This is different from the cost ranges in the assessment report.

The detailed estimate includes:

• Exact costs for materials and labor
• Specific products and specifications
• Applicable Efficiency Maine rebates (confirmed for your income bracket)
• Your out-of-pocket cost after rebates
• Timeline for completion
• Payment terms (30% deposit, balance at completion)

This estimate is the number you commit to. No surprises, no change orders, no "we found something extra" additions during the work.

Step 5: Apply for Rebates and Financing

Efficiency Maine Rebates

We handle the Efficiency Maine paperwork. You do not need to call Efficiency Maine, fill out forms, or wait for approval before we start. Here is how it works:

1. We submit the project details to Efficiency Maine
2. Efficiency Maine confirms the rebate amount based on your income bracket and project scope
3. We apply the rebate directly to your invoice
4. You pay the after-rebate amount

You never pay the full price and wait for reimbursement. The rebate comes off your bill from the start.

Important: Rebate amounts are income-dependent. Standard rebates are available to all homeowners. Enhanced rebates (significantly higher) are available to households below certain income thresholds. We can tell you which bracket you fall into during the estimate process.

Current rebate ranges:

• Insulation and air sealing: Up to $8,000 (income-dependent)
• Cold-climate heat pumps: Up to $9,000 (income-dependent)
• Heat pump water heaters: $1,000

Federal Tax Credits (25C)

The federal Inflation Reduction Act provides tax credits for energy improvements:

• 30% of insulation and air sealing costs, up to $1,200 per year
• 30% of heat pump costs, up to $2,000 per year

These are credits on your federal tax return, not instant rebates. You claim them when you file. Consult your tax advisor for specifics.

Financing

If you prefer to finance, Efficiency Maine Green Bank offers loans for energy improvements:

• Up to $25,000
• Terms from 0% interest for 1 year to 7.99% for 10 years
• Can cover the full project (even portions that do not qualify for rebates)
• Application process is straightforward

We can help you understand the financing options and what the monthly payment would look like for your project.

Step 6: Schedule the Work

Once you have accepted the estimate and financing/rebate arrangements are in place, we schedule the work. Lead times vary by season:

• Spring and summer: Typically 2-4 weeks from acceptance to start
• Fall: 3-6 weeks (busier season as homeowners prepare for winter)
• Winter: 2-4 weeks for insulation work, but boiler replacements may be expedited if your current system is failing

We will give you a specific start date and tell you how many days the work will take. Most single-scope projects (attic insulation, basement insulation, heat pump installation) are completed in one to two days.

Step 7: The Work Itself

On the scheduled day, our crew arrives and gets to work. Here is what to expect:

For insulation and air sealing:

• Crew arrives in the morning with materials and equipment
• Work happens in the attic, basement, or both - minimal disruption to living spaces
• Blower door testing at the start (baseline) and end (verification)
• Typical timeline: one day for attic work, one to two days for basement, one to two days for walls
• You can stay in the home during the work

For heat pump installation:

• Indoor heads are mounted on walls in selected rooms
• Outdoor units are placed on pads or brackets
• Refrigerant lines are routed between indoor and outdoor units
• Electrical circuits are connected
• Typical timeline: one to two days

For boiler replacement:

• Old boiler is disconnected and removed
• New wall-hung condensing boiler is installed and connected to existing hydronic piping
• PVC venting is installed
• System is commissioned and tested
• Typical timeline: one to two days

Step 8: Verify and Enjoy

After the work is complete:

• We walk you through everything that was done
• For air sealing work, we share the before-and-after blower door test results
• We explain how to operate any new equipment (heat pump controls, boiler thermostat)
• We provide documentation for your records and for filing federal tax credits

Within the first few weeks, you should notice differences. Rooms that were cold are warmer. Drafts that were constant are gone. The boiler runs less often. The heat pump keeps the house comfortable without cranking the thermostat.

Over the first heating season, monitor your fuel consumption. Compare gallons used (not dollars, since fuel prices fluctuate) to previous years. Most homeowners see measurable reductions that match or exceed the estimate.

There Is No Expiration Date

One final point. The assessment report does not expire. If you read this guide, review your report, and decide to wait six months or a year, that is perfectly fine. Your home's energy problems will still be there when you are ready. The only things that may change are cost estimates and rebate program details, both of which we update when you reach out.

The assessment is yours. The information is yours. Move forward when the time, budget, and priorities align.

About Horizon Homes

Horizon Homes has been guiding Greater Portland homeowners through the energy improvement process since 2006. Efficiency Maine Top Contractor for 10+ years. 4.9 stars, 64+ reviews.

Ready to take the next step? Call us at (207) 221-3221 or schedule your free home energy assessment if you have not had one yet.

Related Guides

• What Happens During a Home Energy Assessment
• Understanding Your Energy Assessment Report
• How to Prepare for Your Home Energy Assessment
• Common Energy Assessment Findings in Maine Homes