• Indoor air is typically 4-5x more polluted than outdoor air
  • A typical duct system leaks 35% to the outdoors
  • Homes produce more C02 emissions than autos and light trucks combined
  • 25% reduction in U.S. home energy consumption = taking 1/2 of all passenger cars off the road

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Home Performance: "Built To Last"
Friday, January 27, 2012 - 05:57
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Categories: Home Owner Info

Built To Last

In President Obama’s 2012 State of the Union address he repeatedly stated that he seeks an America that is “built to last”. While that may sound vague to some, to a BPI Accredited Contractor like Advanced Home Energy, building to last is exactly what home performance is all about. But what does building to last mean?

If you are a new homeowner (or an old homeowner) you might not be aware of all the advances occurring in the building industry over the last 10 years. While some aspects of the green building movement have been heavily publicized such as the rise of solar photo-voltaics and the fall of Solyndra, many of the innovations in building science especially the simple ones have received comparatively little media attention.

Lawrence Berkeley National Lab has one of the best resources on the internet relating to all aspects of home performance and building science. The LBNL page also links to many other resources around the web.

Building science has advanced a lot in the past 10 years. The building science approach to building differs from traditional construction because it takes into account all the advances in science and technology that our society has made and applying it from a perspective called the whole house approach. The whole house approach differs from traditional construction because it looks as the house as an interconnected system rather than simply looking at separate unconnected parts. Just like how a doctor doesn’t just examine your foot and ignore all other systems, the whole house approach uses the latest technology to analyze buildings and arrive at upgrades based on science rather than just selling a product.

HomeEnergyUpgrade

The website Building Science provides in-depth information for both homeowners and also contractors about the latest advances in building science from the simple Spray Foam Guide to the more intricate Hygrothermal Analysis of Exterior Rockwool Insulation. If you are a homeowner curious about the science behind the latest building practices this site is for you.

Although efficiency is an important aspect, home performance encompasses more than just energy efficiency. For instance, ensuring that gas burning appliances are not leaking carbon monoxide and causing indoor air pollution is not an aspect of energy efficiency but its still an important part of home performance. Homeowners want their homes to be healthy dwellings as well as just being energy efficient. Home performance addresses the safety and health aspects as well as energy efficiency. Several Blog Posts on the AHE website have covered aspects of home health related to home energy systems. Future blog posts will cover additional issues relating to health and safety.

While Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and Building Science are great sources of information, many of the articles and PDFs  might seem very jargonistic and technical to the average homeowner. If you are just interested in some of the broader topics relating to the field of home performance and energy, the website EnergyNOW has many great videos that cover many different aspects of the home performance field. EnergyNOW was a tv program hosted by Bloomberg TV. They are currently switching formats but most of the videos are still hosted here:

EnergyNOW

By taking into account all the advances in building science, home performance contractors such as AHE are at the forefront of re-focusing the construction industry to build sustainable, durable buildings that are more efficient and safer than structures built according to traditional building practices over the past 100 years. So when President Obama calls for a nation that is “build to last”, home performance contractors are ready to step up and provide solutions based on building science to homeowners and business owners across the country. Taking heed of the latest innovations in building science is the best way to build to last.  That is what home performance contractors  do. Our goal is to improve the building industry in America, making it more durable, efficient and safe. This is how a nation starts building to last, one home at a time.

Nest Thermostat - Making HVAC Sexy
Friday, January 13, 2012 - 04:54
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Categories: Contractor Info, Home Owner Info

NestThermostat

 

A few years ago President Obama declared that insulation was sexy. This surprised some people because they don’t associate the word “sexy” with home energy upgrades like insulation. Even though these remedies improve a homeowner’s comfort, reduce energy bills and help sustain the environment, they are not generally thought to be “sexy” products like the iPod or Droid phone. But anyone that doesn’t think energy efficiency is sexy hasn’t seen the Nest Thermostat.

Designed by Tony Fadell, the man who designed 18 generations of the iPod, the Nest Thermostat ushers in a new era of aesthetically appealing energy efficiency equipment. After seeing the Nest thermostat, the influence of the iPod design becomes apparent.  Taking its design cues from the smooth minimalist aesthetic that Apple helped pioneer for consumer electronics, the Nest Thermostat looks hip sitting on the wall.  The design team at Nest Labs has stated this is not just a piece of cool consumer electronics but also an attractive wall decoration and conversation starter.

For all the visual appeal of the Nest, its the innovative features that really make the Nest stand out from all other thermostats on the market. As Fadell learned when doing research for his own home, most programmable thermostats are not as easy to use and benefit from as advertised. In fact, Energy Star recently removed its rating from the entire category of programmable thermostats due to the fact that most homes with programmable thermostats are not actually saving energy and money. A study done by Lawrence Berkeley National Labs showed that many residences with programmable thermostats have them perpetually set to “HOLD” positions. Fadell learned this information and focused Nest Labs on designed a thermostat that overcomes the issues affecting most programmable thermostats available.

What really differentiates the Nest from its programmable competitors is that the Nest isn’t limited by programming reminiscent of 1980s VCRs. Rather the Nest is equipped with a thermostat AI system that learns your behavior and adjusts its programming accordingly. Designed by MIT trained computer scientist and MacArthur Genius Fellow Yoky Matsuoka, the Nest AI uses data based on how you use the thermostat to build up a pattern that the Nest uses. If you usually turn off the furnace at 9pm at night the Nest will learn this typical behavior. If you forget to turn off your furnace one night, the Nest remembers and will turn it off at your usual time.  The Nest also provides a subtle nudge toward energy efficient behavior by awarding you with a green leaf graphic if your settings are set to save energy for a home of your size. The Nest’s AI is like a conscientious friend giving you advice on which settings will save you energy and turning off your lights when you forget.

NestMobile
The Nest also comes equipped with the types of features people expect living in a wired digital world. For instance, the Nest easily integrates with your smart phones to allow you to adjust your temperature settings remotely. So next time you are returning home after a ski trip to Tahoe, you can access your Nest from your smart phone and have it turn on your furnace so your house is warm and cozy right when you get home.  This type of consumer electronic device integration is the future. Most technologists see an increasing trend in electronics for devices to be designed to integrate with other devices such as home PCs and smart phones. Integration is becoming an increasingly important feature of all types of electronics, even ones that people do not typically think of such as thermostats. Nest Labs recognizes this trend and designed the Nest to be the learning thermostat of tomorrow rather than simply replicating the typical features of the thermostat of yesterday.

In the end, the Nest thermostat is definitely a big upgrade for the HVAC, energy efficiency and home improvement industries. However all these cool features don't come cheap. At $250 the Nest costs quite a bit more than its competitors. The popular Honeywell Round thermostat runs about $50. But the Honeywell round was designed in 1953. Its a 50 year old technology whose half-life is up. The Nest, on the other hand, was designed today to be useful for the future. With its behavior learning AI, integration with other devices and aesthetic appeal, I think even President Obama would agree that the Nest is sexy!

Basic Appliance Safety
Saturday, January 7, 2012 - 01:01
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Categories: Home Owner Info

Appliance Safety

As part of our home energy audit we test the safety of all the gas appliances in the home, such as furnaces, water heaters and stoves. It is not uncommon for us to find serious health hazards due to issues with these appliances. This is one of the out-of-site and out-of-mind issues that may never be an issue until something changes in the home. For example, in older homes appliances are often drawing combustion air from inside of the home. Because the house is leaky there is plenty of fresh air to provide proper combustion; however, if new windows are installed and a large amount of the air infiltration is reduced, suddenly there may not be enough ventilation for proper combustion. Now the home may have issues with combustion by-products spilling into the house, back-drafting of the burner flames or carbon-monoxide.

Here is more great information on carbon monoxide safety.

A gas leak is another issue that is commonly undiagnosed for years. Usually leaks occur at the gas fittings right near the appliances. In the case of furnaces and water heaters, these appliances are in the crawlspace or attic and the small leaks dissipate into the air. But sometimes the gas can reach inside the house causing low-grade respiratory illness and headaches. And, small gas leaks usually get worse over time which can lead to a serious safety issue. It’s much better to catch them early and make the repairs.

Gas_Leak_location

•Immediate Safety First- If you do find a gas leak safety first is the most important mantra to follow. If the smell of a gas leak is strong or you can actually hear the sound of gas leaking, leave the building immediately and call for emergency help. Do not switch on lights or use any electrical appliance.

• Check the Stove - If the smell of the gas is not very strong and you can breathe easily check the stove. Sometimes homeowners can leave the gas stove on by a small degree. All knobs should be definitely in the OFF position.

•Check the Oven - On older ovens, check the control knob. Make sure it is in the OFF position. If it is a modern oven that is electronic press the OFF or CANCEL buttons.

•Contact the gas company. Most utilities like PG&E will come out to your home and test for gas leaks. More information from the PG&E website.

 

The Future of Solar Energy
Saturday, December 10, 2011 - 04:00
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Categories: Announcements

Solar panels have been garnering a lot of publicity in recent months (and not always for positive reasons). Yet the solar panel as we know it may already be an obsolete technology.  Just as people are getting used to seeing homes in their neighborhood with rooftops covered with the traditional looking solar panel, new technologies are being developed that will make solar power both more feasible and more invisible. These innovations range from practical advantages that are now becoming commercially available to more exotic long term innovations that inspire the imagination.

 

 Solar Window Film

Solar_Window_Film
One of these areas of innovation is the development of photovoltaic film that can be applied to windows.  The thin photovoltaic solar film can be coated on windows thus turning traditional windows into an electricity generating source of solar power. There are a number of companies focused on innovating this solar window film including   Pythagoras Solar, Ensol, New Energy Technologies, 3M.   The real game changing application for this technology is commercial office buildings with enormous window coverage. Imagine how much energy could be generated in New York City or Chicago if all the office buildings with glass window sides were all covered with solar film.


Solar Shingles

SolarSHingles
While solar window film has the potential to have enormous impact generating electricity for office buildings, for single family residences, solar shingles might be one of the most important innovations ever for residential solar power. Some communities have objected to how “ugly” traditional solar panels are when posted in public locations such as utility poles.

Less aesthetically intrusive than the traditional solar panels, solar shingles are probably the residential solar technology of the future. They blend in well with the aesthetic design of most homes. In fact, unlike the solar panels, they blend in seamlessly with most modern building materials.  While they are currently more expensive than traditional solar panels, as with any new innovation in technology, the cost is bound to decrease over time as the technology advances.


Space-based Solar Power (SBSP)

SpaceSolarPower
On the more exotic, long term tip comes space-based solar power. Usually space based solar power is based on the concept of satellites collecting the solar light and then transporting it back to earth as the graphic above shows. Researchers estimated the amount of space based solar power available is billions of times more than from the surface of our planet. The surface of planet earth only captures 1 part in 2.3 billion of the solar energy generated by the sun. With these numbers, space based solar power can continually generate enough electricity to power all the energy needs of our planet. There are a huge number of advantages to space based solar power including no greenhouse gas emissions and no limited availability of the resource. One of the only disadvantages is the rather hefty development cost of getting this technology from the plausible theory stage to the practical reality stage. One of the best resources for information on space-based solar power is the National Space Society website.


Luna Ring Solar Power

LunaRingSolar
One specific design application of space based solar power is the Luna Ring concept designed and publicized by the Shimizu Corporation of Japan. Using the basic concept of SBSP of capturing the solar energy in space and then transporting it back to earth, Shimizu focuses on using the moon as the base for a ring of solar cells that will capture energy. Their plan is to then transmit that captured energy back to earth using microwaves. This video is very interesting and informative:

Lunar Solar Power Generation LUNA RING

Support the Cut Energy Bills At Home Act : S1914 25E
Saturday, December 3, 2011 - 05:58
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Categories: Announcements, Contractor Info, Home Owner Info

This is a call to support S. 1914 the Cut Energy Bills at Home Act sponsored by Olympia Snowe of Maine. S. 1914 provides up to $5,000 in tax credit for homeowners who go forwarded with energy efficiency upgrades on their home. The Cut Energy Bills at Home Act provides incentives for communities to reduce their long term energy use by upgrading individual residences.

This provides many benefits. Homeowners benefit from reduced energy bills, greater comfort and a healthier and safer home. Local communities benefit from the boost in job growth for home performance companies at a time when the general construction and home improvement sectors have been waning for years. Society benefits from greater energy efficiency with reduced carbon footprints and lower demand for energy, irrespective of the source. According to an EIA report from the Department of the Environment 21% of total pollution derives from residential buildings. Energy efficient buildings designed according to contemporary standards of building science could greatly reduce this pollution. According to Lawrence Berkeley National Lab senior staff scientist Mark Levine "Residential is a slam-dunk, it's just a matter of applying the technology we have...It's the biggest sector. It's the biggest savings."

Building science has advanced greatly in the past decade and now we know more about how to construct buildings to perform with far greater efficiency. Unfortunately the inefficient practices that have long been the typical mode of operation for the construction industry are still very widespread. Indeed, the majority of the public is not even aware of how much more efficiently our society could be constructing buildings.

                                                                                                               source: EPA

energyefficienthouse

                                                    
One of the most successful programs deriving from the ARRA has been the residential rebates for energy efficiency. The funding for programs such as Energy Upgrade California has provided a sustainable and viable model for public incentives to homeowners for home energy upgrades. The Energy Upgrade California program is just now becoming successful in raising public awareness to the concept of energy efficiency as well as creating new "green collar" jobs. Despite this emerging success, there is still a majority of homeowners who are unaware of the innovations in building science which lead to much more efficient, comfortable and healthy homes.

The high profile troubles with Solyndra threaten to publicly distract from the positive results of Energy Upgrade California. A focus on energy efficiency benefits individuals, communities and the nation irrespective of the source of our energy. Yet the Solyndra debacle consistently garners more media coverage than the more cost-effective results of energy efficiency based approaches and programs such as Energy Upgrade California.

If more of the ARRA funds had been initially directed toward programs such as Energy Upgrade California instead of companies like Solyndra, more sustainable jobs could have been generated. More homeowners could have benefitted from greater energy efficiency upgrades which in turn benefits communities by reducing the overall regional demand for energy.

With many regional, county and city rebates set to expire in February-April and the negative publicity caused by Solyndra, it is important for Federal government to channel resources into raising the nation's awareness of energy efficiency and supporting incentives that are a win-win for everyone (such as Energy Upgrade California). Greater energy efficiency is essential no matter what are the primary and secondary sources of our nation’s energy. Energy efficiency legislation like the Cut Energy Bills At Home Act is extremely important in helping raise awareness for all the benefits of greater energy efficient building practices.

The Cut Energy Bills At Home Act can fill the gap when many of the current rebate programs sunset in spring 2012 (such as the Association of Bay Area Government rebates). These incentives can be an important to boost to local economies by helping sustain "green collar" job growth in communities hit hard by the recent recession. They also benefit communities over the long term by reducing aggregate energy demand and reducing the aggregate carbon footprint.

 

Advanced Home Energy Selected as an Inner City Advisor Portfolio Company
Thursday, November 24, 2011 - 00:15
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Categories: Announcements

We are excited to announce that on November 11, 2011 Advanced Home Energy (AHE) was selected to become one of Inner City Advisors’ Portfolio Companies.

Inner City Advisors (ICA) works with a small number of companies each year that have shown rapid job growth and business expansion. Building on the work of Michael E. Porter from Harvard Business School, ICA provides a wealth of resources to assist local entrepreneurs and innovators. These resources are channeled towards aiding ICA’s Portfolio Companies. To learn more about Inner City Advisors mission view this video:

 

ICA Portfolio Companies are vetted and selected based on their potential ability to grow, provide meaningful jobs, and have a positive environmental and social impact in their community. ICA assists in facilitating future growth by providing consulting services, strategic business advice and access to potential investment capital.

Some success stories from ICA’s  Portfolio Companies include Numi Organic Tea and Revolution Food.  Both companies started as local East Bay Area businesses. With ICA’s assistance they continued to grow sustainably and move into new markets while also increasing their market penetration.

To learn more about Inner City Advisors, visit their website.

Advanced Home Energy looks forward to working with ICA as we continue our mission of lowering residential energy consumption and reducing our local carbon footprint.

 

New Rebates for Energy Efficiency Retrofits in the SF Bay Area - How to Qualify
Thursday, November 10, 2011 - 23:59
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New Rebates Available Now!

The Association of Bay Area Governments now offers up to $2,000 in additional rebates. This $2,000 is in addition to  the $4,000 from Energy Upgrade California.  Some cities and counties offer extra rebate money on top of this $6,000.
Marin County offers up to an additional $2,000   =   $8,000 total.
San Francisco County offers up to an additional $3,000   =   $9,000 total.
San Mateo County offers up to an additional $4,000  =   $10,000 total.
Contra Costa County offers up to an additional $5,000  =   $11,000 total.  

Rebate incentives for completing home energy efficiency upgrades have never been better in California. This funding is only available for a limited time only. Now is the time to take advantage of these great incentives.

Here is how to qualify for the rebates:

1.  Complete a home energy assessment. Home energy assessments take 3-5  hours while our specialists conduct a series of diagnostic tests that measure your home’s performance. These tests include a blower door to measure how tight your home is, a duct blaster to measure any leakage in your duct system and infrared cameras to identify areas of inadequate insulation.

The Association of Bay Area Governments is currently offering a $300 home energy assessment rebate for having completed an energy assessments completed.

2.  Review your home energy assessment. After conducting these tests, our energy specialists will provide you a 20+ page report identifying issues in your home. This information comes from the diagnostic tests combined with modeling your home in computer software. This will include efficiency issues as well as some safety issues such as testing for carbon monoxide exposure. The report provides you a baseline for the rebates. The rebates from Energy Upgrade CA, the  Association of Bay Area Governments and city and county specific rebates are based on the amount of energy savings which can be achieved in your home. Along with this report will be a set of upgrade packages you can select from depending on your budget and goals.

3.  Have your home energy retrofit completed. The most cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades usually include: properly insulating the attic, crawlspace and walls, air sealing leaky areas of the building, ensuring proper duct sealing and upgrading old, inefficient furnaces and water heaters. More expensive efficiency measures can include installing high-performance dual pane windows and radiant heating systems.  Advanced Home Energy completes these energy efficiency upgrades in house using our own crews so you don’t need to hire multiple contractors for different aspects of your energy retrofit.

4. Enjoy your energy efficiency upgrades. Home energy retrofits not only make your home more energy efficient but also more comfortable. Often the upgrades also make your home safer for your family by ensuring healthy indoor air quality. Winter is coming! Don't be caught in a cold and drafty home. Enjoy a cozier, more comfortable home by having a home energy retrofit. 

Client Case Study: Home Energy Upgrade:

 

Carbon Monoxide Alarms Now Required in Most Homes
Friday, October 28, 2011 - 00:24
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Categories: Home Owner Info

Many homeowners might not be aware of a new law that went into effect this summer requiring carbon monoxide alarms to be installed in most single family homes. They also might not be aware of how dangerous carbon monoxide exposure can be to unaware residents.

This summer I learned first hand about carbon monoxide exposure when a cracked heat exchanger was discovered on the 25 y ear furnace at my parents house in Los Angeles. We discovered they had been exposure to carbon monoxide for an unidentified period of time. Luckily they only received minor exposure but it was still a scary discovery. Had this exposure gone on longer they might have needed medical attention. The carbon monoxide exposure explained why my father was feeling less than 100% for a few weeks.

California’s Acting State Fire Marshall Tonya Hoover has stated “Carbon monoxide is a silent killer, each year claiming the lives of an average of 480 people and sending more than 20,000 people to emergency rooms across the nation."

These statistics are why California, along with other states, now requires carbon monoxide alarms in every home. The potential sources of carbon monoxide exposure are listed in the chart below:

co2sources

Source: http://www.firesafetycouncil.com


Carbon monoxide can be a serious risk in some homes. AHE also recommends checking all gas burning appliances being checked and serviced regularly to ensure there is no ongoing risk of carbon monoxide exposure. This new law is great for raising awareness to potential risks of carbon monoxide exposure. Also, Carbon monoxide alarms have already been reported to have saved lives:
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=8317020



Moisture and Mold Issues
Wednesday, October 19, 2011 - 22:52
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One of the biggest indoor health issues for most homes is mold. Mold spores are invisible to the naked eye and are present in every home. For most homes, these spores are not an issue as they do not have the right conditions to thrive. For mold to grow it needs three basic things: an organic food source (such as your wall or ceiling), normal indoor temperatures and moisture.

Mold in Crawlspace

Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are moist. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture. Typically, whenever the relative humidity of a home remains above 60% for any length of time, the conditions for mold growth are present. Fortunately, this is a factor that we can control by minimizing moisture and humidity inside the home. Mold problem = moisture problem. If you clean up the mold, but don't fix the water problem, then, most likely, the mold problem will come back.

Here are a few moisture and mold prevention tips from the EPA:

  • When water leaks or spills occur indoors - ACT QUICKLY. If wet or damp materials or areas are dried 24-48 hours after a leak or spill happens, in most cases mold will not grow.
  • Clean and repair roof gutters regularly.
  • Make sure the ground slopes away from the building foundation, so that water does not enter or collect around the foundation.
  • Keep indoor humidity low. If possible, keep indoor humidity below 60 percent (ideally between 30 and 50 percent) relative humidity. Relative humidity can be measured with a moisture or humidity meter.
  • If you see condensation or moisture collecting on windows, walls or pipes ACT QUICKLY to dry the wet surface and reduce the moisture/water source. Condensation can be a sign of high humidity.
  • Run the bathroom fan or open the window when showering. Use exhaust fans or open windows whenever cooking, running the dishwasher or dishwashing, etc. (Note, at Advanced Home Energy we do not recommend opening a window to exhaust humidity, but rather install a timer switch on the bathroom fan and run it for 15 minutes after a shower)

Energy Upgrade California Outreach to Raise Awareness about County Rebates
Saturday, October 8, 2011 - 03:52
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Categories: Home Owner Info

Energy Upgrade California has been organizing many community outreach events in cities to raise awareness among homeowners about the collection of rebates now being offered. Many homeowners have been unaware of the large amount of rebates being offered by Counties and cities supplying funds in addition to the $4,000 rebate offered by Energy Upgrade California. California non-profits have been tasked with getting the word out about these rebates.

Community outreach events like the one recently in El Cerrito attracted about 100 homeowners. To find out about upcoming Energy Upgrade California community outreach events check out the Energy Upgrade Ca/ PGE Events on eventbrite.

Other cities have focused on different  approaches. The City of Hayward offered a free home energy upgrade to a random winner of a drawing in an attempt to raise awareness. The  County of Marin published a youtube  video to help get the word out about the Energy Upgrade California rebates:

 

Take advantage of this great opportunity by learning more about the rebates available through California and PG&E.

See What People are Saying about Advanced Home Energy

yelp Its very difficult these days to feel like businesspeople really care about you AND the work they do. If you work with AHE, you'll get the pleasure of both. I highly recommend Advanced Home Energy!
 
berkeley Our utility bills went way down during the winter and our house is finally comfortable!
 
angies Our house is much quieter and I’m averaging a 25% savings in energy costs since this work was done. I simply couldn’t be happier with the work AHE performed for me. I am pleased to recommend them without qualification.
 
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