10-Community Fossil Fuel Ban Becomes Law

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On August 10, 2022, Governor Charlie Baker signed a clean energy and climate bill to help the state reach the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. The bill included a pilot program to allow ten cities and towns to restrict or prohibit the use of fossil fuels in most construction or major renovation projects. The proposal was signed amid opposition by labor unions, utility companies, real estate and housing organizations that the program could slow housing production.

The climate bill doesn’t dictate which 10 communities will participate in the study. The Department of Energy Resources will oversee the program and decide which communities participate based on the following criteria:

Received local approval, and has:

  • Achieved the 10% threshold on the subsidized housing inventory under Chapter 40B or have a Housing Production Plan approved by the Department of Housing and Community Development; or
  • Has approved a zoning ordinance or by-law that provides for at least 1 district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted

Ten cities and towns have already secured local approval and have submitted home rule petitions: Cambridge, Newton, Brookline, Lexington, Arlington, Concord, Lincoln, Acton, Aquinnah, and West Tisbury. Other towns and cities can still apply and have 18 months from the effective date of the new law (July 31, 2022) to achieve compliance with these requirements in order to participate in the project.

We at Greenstamp are very aware of this law change. The new law means that new construction and renovation project in the selected towns will need to go all electric. That being said, going all electric heating and cooling will require that these homes and buildings must use the best insulation possible. Building better and tighter homes will reduce the home’s energy use and carbon footprint.

We currently work with our contractors educating them on best practices to achieve this now. As this becomes more common practice over the next few years we are already ahead of the game.

 

Car Barn – Fiberglass Project

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A car collector constructed a car barn that needed insulation. The team at Greenstamp Insulation recommends and installs the best insulation for each project. In this case, to get the most insulation benefit, while minimizing costs, we installed budget-friendly fiberglass insulation.

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Cape Cod – On the Water

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Greenstamp applied sprayfoam insulation to this Cape Cod home on the water. This space has a living area above it. Now that it’s insulated, it will keep the living area comfortable, energy-efficient and protected from moisture.

Spray foam insulated living space

Greenstamp Helps Preserve Golf History with Spray Foam Insulation

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Spray foam insulation is a modern product that can be used to preserve old buildings, when applied with great care. Greenstamp was trusted to install insulation in two buildings that hold historical significance in the golf world.

The Country Club, located in Brookline, MA, is the oldest country club in the United States and hosts numerous USGA tournaments including the 1913 U.S. Open won by then-unknown Francis Ouimet. Francis DeSales Ouimet was an American amateur golfer who is frequently referred to as the “father of amateur golf.” The Quimet home is located near The Country Club.

Greenstamp is honored to be part of preserving these historical buildings for golf enthusiasts to enjoy for many generations to come.

Retrofit to Prevent Ice Dams

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There’s still a lot of winter to go in 2022. That means, the threat of ice dams continue to pose a threat to homes. A property owner in MA chose the Greenstamp team to retrofit their single-family home with sprayfoam insulation to prevent ice dams. Smart move!

 

Featured Project: Pool House in MA

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A beautiful indoor pool house in MA gets insulted with spray foam. A vapor barrier coating has been applied to increase the airtightness of the pool house as well as prevent moisture from infiltrating an area where it could condense and cause mold growth or premature rotting.

Maximizing R-Values with HFO products

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An R-rating – or R-value, as it’s also known in the home energy-efficiency industry – refers to an insulating material’s ability to resist conductive heat flow. The better a material resists the transfer of heat, the higher its R-value. How does this relate to insulation products, like spray-foam insulation?
 

Blowing agents are a critical component to spray foam. One of the big changes recently is the transition from HFC (Hydrofluorocarbon) blowing agents to HFO blowing agents (Hydrofluoroolefin). HFC’s were initially developed to replace ozone-depleting substances (ODS) that were used in refrigeration, air conditioning, aerosols and spray foam. Over the years, chemists have created new formulations and ways to produce quality spray foams with even less impact on the environment. 

In December of 2020, the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act (AIM) passed, ordering manufacturers to start phasing down the consumption and production of HFC’s by 85% over the next 15 years. Several states already have regulations in place restricting the use of HFC’s. 

Many contractors, in states where there are no HFC regulations in place, now prefer the new HFO products thanks to the superior performance and increased yields they offer. In fact, some of IDI’s HFO products have higher R-Values than their HFC counterparts and can be sprayed in thicker passes, allowing the installer to complete more projects in one application. 

 
Greenstamp only uses these products.  So, if you want a more environmentally friendly, cost-effective insulation solution installed in your residence or building, contact our team today.

The Best Way to Prevent Ice Dams

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Ice dams are a common sight all over New England. These humps of ice form on the edge of roofs and cause damage not only to the roof, but inside the home as well. There are several tools available, from roof rakes to ice melting systems. However, there is only one sure way to fix the underlying problem that causes ice dams in the first place — a warm roof, caused when heated air seeps out from the space below the roof, due to poor insulation and venting. Melted snow enters the home creating water damage and potential mold problems.
 
The best way to prevent ice dams is spray foam insulation.
 
 
In the last 20 years, Greenstamp insulated many homes throughout the Boston-metro area and Cape Cod to prevent ice dams. We insulated this home featured below. In the first photo taken in 2010, ice dams are visible. In the photo, taken after the infamous 2015 “Snowmaggedon”, no ice dams!
Contact us for insulation to prevent costly ice dams on your roof this winter!