Insulation isn't just for the winter months! Heating and cooling account for 50 to 70% of the energy used in the average American home. Inadequate insulation and air leakage are leading causes of energy waste in most homes. In the summer, insulation keeps the walls, ceilings and floors of your home cooler, which eases the load on your air conditioner and lowers your cooling costs.
Ask us about insulating your home today! Give us a call at (978) 462-0082
Looking for Green Insulation? – Get Wrapped up in the Green Cocoon
By GREEN ALLIANCE | Published: JUNE 6, 2019
The Green Cocoon is an award winning environmental comfort specialist that delivers energy-efficient, eco-friendly insulation solutions to residences and businesses throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine.
Husband and wife team Jim Materkowski and Candace Lord founded the Green Cocoon in 2007, with a goal of bringing an environmental solution to insulation.
With winter approaching, The Green Cocoon has five easy ways for homeowners to increase energy efficiency and save money, besides using our fabulous spray foam insulation! As the weather gets cooler, your furnace will start to come on and that means you’ll be using more energy. Consequently, your heating bills will increase. Try these five easy DIY (do-it-yourself) projects to help cut down on energy loss and expenses.
Did you know that worn weather stripping can create drafts and let cold air in? This puts a high demand on your furnace and takes away your comfort. Replacing it takes little time and is a low-cost, high-impact solution.
Cracks and crevices are a source of heat loss. They can also be an entryway for water/moisture, as well as for undesired insects. Preventative maintenance, such as caulking, can improve energy efficiency and prevent costly repairs.
A dirty furnace filter means less efficiency and that costs money! Check your furnace filter monthly and if it’s dirty, change it or have it changed. Moreover, have a technician come in and inspect the entire furnace at least once per year.
LED is a highly energy-efficient lighting technology, and has the potential to fundamentally change the future of lighting in the United States. Residential LEDs—especially ENERGY STAR rated products—use at least 75 percent less energy, and last 25 times longer than incandescent lighting.1
You can save money and increase energy efficiency on your heating and cooling bills by simply resetting your thermostat when you are asleep or away from home. You can do this automatically, without sacrificing comfort, by installing an automatic setback or programmable thermostat.
Contact us if you have questions on how you can save even more money on your heating bills.
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1 Department of Energy (2019). LED Lighting. Retrieved from energy.gov.
May, 2019, Weston, Mass. – The Green Cocoon (TGC) just finished the remodel of an energy-efficient, antique home in Weston, Massachusetts. Built in 1897, this completely remodeled farmhouse is on the market for just under $5 million. The home combines the architectural integrity and character of the original farmhouse with advanced, high-performance and smart home features. These features include being certified as EPA Indoor airPLUS; DOE Zero Energy Ready Home; and an ENERGY STAR® Home. Read entire story.
“We are very excited to have been a part of this restoration,” said Candace Lord, Green Cocoon General Manager. “The results of our Mineral Wool are incredible. It is 100% recyclable, VOC-free, and formaldehyde-free. Mineral Wool is made from volcanic rock and slag (a glass-like by-product left over after a desired metal has been separated, i.e., smelted, from its raw ore). It is extremely fire retardant and has no harmful chemicals.”
Having such efficiency is one reason the home was registered as LEED Platinum®. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is one of the most popular green building certification programs used worldwide. Developed by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), it includes a set of rating systems for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of green buildings, homes, and neighborhoods. The rating systems aim to help building owners and operators be environmentally responsible and use resources efficiently.
The Green Cocoon, Inc. is an award-winning environmental comfort specialist delivering seamless energy efficient, eco-friendly insulation solutions to residences and businesses throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine. Comfort is at the core of their inherent operative mission. Their business is hinged on honesty, transparency, and trust. www.thegreencocoon.com.
The Green Cocoon was a sponsor of Rett’s Roost 5K held on September 23, 2018. Rett’s Roost is a nonprofit that helps children with cancer and their families.
The event was held at the Throwback Brewery in Portsmouth and raised over $25,000!
The Green Cocoon was hired as the insulation subcontractor for this restoration project. Insulating this New England gem, located in Gloucester, Massachusetts, was a wonderful project.
The original house was built in 1690. Also, it has additions dating from the early to late 1700s! All of the walls have layer upon layer of history. Interestingly, the house was wallpapered hundreds of years ago and then new walls were built over those. Hand-etched drawings of sailboats with the British flag can be found on the exposed first-floor ceilings.
To make sure this house maintained its historical preservation, mineral wool with an adhesive was blown into the exterior walls. The roof was insulated from the exterior with rigid foam board. This was done so we did not damage any of the beautiful interior.
For more information on mineral wool insulation or any of our insulations, contact us.
“Flash and batt” is a popular technique for insulating walls. But if you are going to use this technique, make sure to start with at least two inches of closed cell foam. A one inch “flash” is not enough to prevent condensation!
If you need more information, contact us.
The largest misconception people have regarding energy is where they believe they use and waste the most.
Heating and cooling are the main energy consumers in buildings. Moreover, they account for two thirds of a building’s total energy consumption. However, most of this energy is wasted due to inadequate insulation.
Insulation is the most effective way to reduce energy costs. By using energy-efficient insulation techniques, 70 to 90 percent of a building’s heating and cooling need could be cut.
Call us today. Ask how you can reduce your energy waste with eco-friendly insulation!
In early 2017, The Green Cocoon was nominated for the SPFA National Industry Excellence Award at the national spray foam convention in Palm Springs, California. Dozens of companies enter their projects hoping to win the Award. However, only five are chosen to be publicly recognized at the awards luncheon. We we were proud to be one of the five!
Although we did not win, we were in the Top 5 for the Commercial Wall Spray Foam category. This was for our work on the 233 Vaughan Street Project in Portsmouth, NH, In an industry with thousands of companies, being voted in the top 5 is a testament to our company’s passion for excellence, honesty, and drive. We strive to be the best in our industry.
Read more about this project. View our photos of the Vaughan Street project.
If you have a commercial or residential insulation project, contact us for a quote.
