Letter of Thanks from Middletown

I live in a two story 20 year old home with two electric heat pump systems. I also have a propane fireplace. I was looking to reduce my energy bills. I met with Mark Lancaster (CEO of Lancaster Craftsman Builders, in Middletown) to discuss affordable ways to achieve this goal. He customized a plan for my home and, in about 1 month, the improvements were made. My energy bills are now significantly and measurably lower, and my home is noticeably more comfortable. I was also able to employ tax incentives to help pay for the improvements. I figure my payback period to be about 2 years.

Mark’s recommendation began with an energy audit to identify problem areas that are leaking heat. It was time to replace my furnace, and Mark recommended a model with a variable speed blower to maintain a more constant and uniform temperature and humidity level in the home. This eliminated cold and warm spots, and because it lowered my humidity level in the summer I was able to raise the temperature without sacrificing comfort.

The audit revealed energy losses in the attic. So, Mark suggested that I remove the old ceiling insulation and had spray foam installed under my roof sheathing and on my attic walls to create a conditioned space. My attic is now never cold in the winter, nor hot in the summer. Now the attic HVAC ductwork does not have to heat up or cool down before it delivers the proper temperature air. I have also noticed that my heating and cooling systems run far less than they did before these improvements were made.

My energy bills have never been lower, and my home has never been more comfortable. The results of the improvements are listed below:

• My kilowatt/hour usage is down more than 20%, year over year, in winter and summer. So, with the cost of electricity continually rising, I  save more money with each passing year.
• I now save, at least, $500 on propane each winter because I hardly ever need the fireplace any more. I used to require refills every couple of months.
• I have no cold air leaking from the attic into the 2nd floor. My attic, year round, is the same temperature as the upstairs bedrooms.
• I no longer use electric oil-filled heaters to supplement some rooms, in the winter, because the cold spots and warm spots in the home have been eliminated.
• I no longer need to run an “energy demanding” dehumidifier in the basement, during the summer. (That device used as much electricity as the hot water heater.)
• I have also been able to lower the thermostat (in the winter) and raise it (in the summer) without sacrificing any comfort.

Thanks Mark.