While attending a local event for home performance contractors recently, one subject popped up in two separate conversations that I have been thinking about for awhile now and would like to open up for comment: Time of Sale Energy Labeling of Homes. This is the practice of having a mandatory energy rating or audit done of [...]
Posts Tagged Energy
When contemplating improving our home’s performance it helps to have a general guideline or ordering of priorities when making the decisions that provide the most benefit for our investment. It’s important to look at the house as a system where each part interacts and ideally works together with the rest. If we ignore this interaction and focus our attention on single source solutions, at best we miss opportunities to leverage our decisions and in the worse case cause unintentionally negative results.
The last post in this series discussed the benefits of a comprehensive energy audit as a starting point for any serious energy improvements. Not only will the information gathered assist in putting together an effective game plan, it will be required for most incentive programs including SMUD‘s Home Performance Program and Home Star. The [...]
In case any of you are wondering whatever happened to this project or if it ever started, I thought I’d give a quick update on where we are in the process. No, unfortunately we haven’t started construction on the project yet. Yes, we are still planning to get going as soon as HUD and the powers that [...]
Efficiency First is reporting this afternoon that the HomeStar legislation which would provide incentives for home energy retrofit projects passed the U.S. House of Representatives today with bipartisan support. The HomeStar Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (H.R. 5019) passed with a vote of 246-161. Though this is a major milestone for this legislation and the [...]
Infrared Thermal Imaging
May 3
Originally developed by the U.S. military as an advanced weapon sighting technology FLIR or Forward Looking Infra Red thermal imagers were eventually adapted by firefighters to aid in identifying hidden fires in walls and looking for victims in low-visibility smoke environments. Unlike x-ray technology infrared does not see through a material but graphically measures subtle [...]
Ductwork Testing
Apr 29
Based on field testing conducted statewide over a number of years, the California Energy Commission estimates the average duct leakage in California homes regardless of size and vintage to be 30%.
This translates into an increase in heating and cooling costs of approximately 20% for the average home.
Last Friday I had the opportunity to attend a contractor orientation for the SMUD Home Performance Program. I wanted to share some of the details of the program as they stand right now. Please keep in mind minor modifications may be made to some of the details of the program as they get closer to [...]
Earlier this year the Los Angeles Dept of Water and Power which is a municipal utility, proposed a rate increase of 5.7% in the form of a “carbon surcharge” to help meet LA mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s ambitious goal of 20% clean power by the end of 2010. A proposal unpopular with consumer groups, the rate hike was rejected by the [...]
The federal government’s stimulus package provides tax credits for an assortment of energy efficient home improvements. These range from building envelope improvements like air sealing and insulation through windows, heating and cooling equipment all the way to renewable energy projects like PV solar.
In the previous post in this series, we outlined some of the cause and effect of inadequate and uncontrolled infiltration. Let’s talk about some solutions to those problems. Source control Often an effective first step available to most households is source control. Store pollutant sources such as paints, solvents and other chemicals in a cabinet [...]
California First is a statewide program adopted earlier this year in Sacramento allowing property owners to participate in the state’s AB811 program, providing financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrade to their properties. California First is an example of a Property Assessed Clean Energy or PACE program. Here are some of the basics of how [...]
What comes to mind when you think of energy efficiency?
It’s also important to keep in mind that energy efficiency isn’t about giving up things like comfort and convenience. It’s about getting more out of the resources we already use. We can enjoy a comfortable, well-lit home while being energy efficient and saving money too.
