Evergreen Home Performance’s commitment to providing good, sustainable jobs is one reason is was named the Pen Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year.

Evergreen’s growing team includes marathon runners, organic gardeners, educators, a Paris Le Cordon Bleu trained chef, and a phenomenal juggler.  They care about energy efficiency, and they’re dedicated to providing homeowners with a positive contracting experience.  “We think it’s only fair that they get on-the-job training, use appropriate protective safety gear, and earn family-friendly wages, and health insurance benefits,” said Development Director and co-owner Elise Brown.  “We notice that when we treat our employees right, they work better together – and achieve the best possible results for homeowners.”

Customers definitely notice the impact.  "Hiring smart, socially-aware individuals is a way past bureaucratic barriers," said a Belfast, Maine homeowner.  He referenced Barry Schwartz’s TED talk about workplace rules, which can undermine innovation and impair progress towards core, mission-critical goals.   He noticed that by embracing “practical wisdom” and encouraging employee innovation, Evergreen avoids that trap.

The Pen Bay Chamber of Commerce has noticed Evergreen’s mission-based business, too.  The energy efficiency audit and contracting company is “geekishly committed to their mission and the service they provide to the community,” said Ken Gardiner when he presented Small Business of the Year award in Maine.   “They are committed to creating and sustaining jobs in quest of this mission.  And they are committed to improving our environment by having an impact on energy efficiency in your home and mine.”

“Evergreen’s technicians are on a mission to maximize energy performance,” agreed Brown.  “They go after the hard stuff and really relish the tricky places and complex problem solving that might give others pause.”