barn-raising

You could call us the "caulk gun militia."

Last month, I joined about 40 other volunteers, armed to the teeth with materials to weatherize a two-family home. Despite the rain and a few errant squirts of insulating foam, we made the leaky New England home significantly more energy efficient, largely by sealing all manner of leaks.

We won't know the financial impact of our work until after the winter months, but it will undoubtedly lower the residents' heating and electricity bills in future years. Along the way, we learned a few things we could do at our … Read more