text:
All Blog Posts Tagged 'metal' - Home Energy Pros 2017-05-01T06:32:46Z http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profiles/blog/feed?tag=metal&xn_auth=no The Legends of Home Performance tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-27:6069565:BlogPost:217001 2017-04-27T14:27:14.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
A project long in the making, we're happy to finally reveal some of our Legends of Home Performance videos. We've been working with videographer Debra Little for almost a year now, and she's had the pleasure of sitting down and hearing the stories of several home performance industry heavy hitters.

"I've been shooting these at various conferences I've attended and it's been a thrill for me to hear [their] stories and be able to help make them accessible for folks to enjoy," says…

A project long in the making, we're happy to finally reveal some of our Legends of Home Performance videos. We've been working with videographer Debra Little for almost a year now, and she's had the pleasure of sitting down and hearing the stories of several home performance industry heavy hitters.

"I've been shooting these at various conferences I've attended and it's been a thrill for me to hear [their] stories and be able to help make them accessible for folks to enjoy," says Little.

Among the interviewees in the series are Rick Chitwood, Henry Gifford, Martin Holladay, Gary Nelson, Sam Rashkin, Nehemiah Stone, and John Straube.

We'll be sharing these videos with you through our blog and social media channels, but if you just can't wait, you can view them on YouTube here.

First up: Martin Holladay, Senior Editor of Green Building Advisor.

 Building a Clean Energy Future, Respect for the People Who Will Build It tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-25:6069565:BlogPost:216964 2017-04-25T20:29:18.000Z Efficiency First California http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EfficiencyFirstCalifornia

You don't need to spend a great of time deal in the policy world before you hear a conversation about workforce development. In fact, the Energy Upgrade California incentive program was originally created as a workforce development solution. Flashback to 2008, the Great Recession: contractors were out of work and the economy was in a downward spiral. The incoming Obama administration designed a program to stimulate the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment…

You don't need to spend a great of time deal in the policy world before you hear a conversation about workforce development. In fact, the Energy Upgrade California incentive program was originally created as a workforce development solution. Flashback to 2008, the Great Recession: contractors were out of work and the economy was in a downward spiral. The incoming Obama administration designed a program to stimulate the economy. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law February of 2009 and was intended to save existing jobs and create new ones. Lots of ARRA funds flowed into the energy efficiency industry and hopes were bright.

An Abundance of Workforce Training

Contractors were excited to consider a new industry that offered good jobs that provided the social benefit of saving energy. Workforce education and training classes were abundant and droves of contractors filled the rooms to learn about building science, HVAC, business practices, and many other topics. In no time we had a large number of contractors who were trained, certified, and in many cases, had invested thousands of dollars in sophisticated testing equipment. They believed that when the economy turned around and the industry boomed, they would be well prepared to take advantage of the opportunity.

There was only one bump in the road. Try as they might, the Energy Upgrade California folks could not rally the public to spend large sums of money upgrading their homes. The industry languished and many thousands of dollars of test equipment sat idle in garages, collecting dust. Most of that equipment is likely still there today.

The Economy Has Picked Up

Flash forward to today: it's 2017, interest rates are low, the recession is behind us people are investing in their homes again, and contractors are busy. General contracting is on fire right now, fueled by low-interest rates and homeowners' pent-up ambitions to improve their homes. The residential remodeling sector is seeing a huge influx of dollars earmarked for home improvements and remodeling projects. Much of this investment is follow through on projects that were put on hold during the Great Recession. This is a good thing, as contractors are busy and the funds are flowing. And when contractors have more work than they can handle, the obvious choice is to hire some more help.

The problem now is, there's no help available.

Without help, you can't grow and expand your capabilities. It's no secret that one of the most challenging issues for contractors today is the lack of available workforce. I personally know a number of contractors including plumbers, electricians, cabinet makers, sheet rockers, and home performance contractors. The one thing I consistently hear is that there is a lack of available workers in the building trades. It seems that pretty much anybody in the trades that wants work is working today. As a result of the strong economy, there is no one left to hire.

There are a couple of reasons we find ourselves in this situation. First off, an entire generation of young folks who would typically enter the trades, chose not to during the recession. There was no work, so why go down that path? We can't really blame them for that.

The Trades Are Not Valued

But there is another reason the workforce is dwindling, and this one's a bit more philosophical: Society no longer appreciates people who actually use their hands to make a living the way it used to. We used to respect the trades, and suggest skilled trades as an alternative to college. It was often possible to make similar wages in the trades, without the four-year trek and expense of a college degree.

Today most high school aged kids see college as the only option to advancing their careers. It seems we have abandoned the idea that there might be another way to prepare yourself for a long-lasting and lucrative career path that does not involve spending thousands of dollars and several years in college.

At the same time, the cost of a four-year degree is staggering these days. It's typical for recent grads to carry tens of thousands of dollars in debt upon graduation. Is the time and money spent really worth it? Part of the reason we're facing a shortage of new workers is we have created an entire generation that believes that without a college education there is no future.

Mike Rowe, the host of the television show Dirty Jobs, has recognized the problem. He has created a foundation to try to educate young folks at let them know that there is an alternative to college, and that people should be proud to work with their hands. His foundation is called Profoundly Disconnected, and it's worth a look. Rowe has partnered with industry and others to provide scholarships intended to help close the skills gap our country is currently facing. He is trying to bring awareness to the fact that many sectors of today's economy lack skilled workers, and that as a result, jobs are abundant. This means there are plenty of good paying jobs available without the need or expense of a four-year degree.

The Challenge is Bigger In Our State and Industry

The construction trades in California are particularly challenged. How do we support and grow our fledgling industry when there is already a lack of available workforce? The challenge is even harder in the home performance industry, where working conditions can be pretty tough. Give a person the choice between crawling under a house to install some ductwork and digging a ditch in the sun, and many will choose the latter.

Many home performance contractors who are true to the cause have by and large abandoned their home performance efforts. Kitchen remodels, room additions, bathrooms, and more traditional construction projects are in full swing. Contractors who drank the kool-aide in 2009 and became true believers in home performance are today doing more conventional general contracting work. In most cases, it's a matter of consumer demand. If people have money to spend and want remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, it makes sense to focus on kitchens and bathrooms.

Many contractors who, six years ago, spent 80 percent of their time on home performance and 20 percent on general construction now see those numbers reversed. Others have abandoned home performance altogether. Until we can create real consumer demand for home performance and energy efficiency I don't think the trend is likely to change. And even if we see a major shift in priorities and home performance takes off, we face real challenges achieving market transformation and growth in the industry. Why? The same thing general contractors are dealing with now, lack of available workforce.

It is important to raise this concern, as the state has millions of dollars allocated for workforce education and training (WET), but until we recognize and understand our current workforce challenges, throwing money at the situation will not fix the problem. Utilities fund robust training programs that are available free of cost and yet the classrooms sit empty. Trainers and teachers are sending out group email messages to try and get attendance up, which will preserve their jobs. The problem is that there are no potential workers interested in the information that is being provided.

Green Energy Jobs Are Good Jobs

What we need is an awareness that there is an alternative to college. We need to educate young people and let them know that skilled trades are a viable option. The fast-growing "green energy" sector could be a great choice for those looking to go to work without spending four years and thousands of dollars on a college education. We should encourage youth to enter the trades and build skills that will allow them to provide for themselves and their families. Our industry needs more young and passionate people to enter the field so they can learn the hard-earned lessons from their elders.

Without the people on the ground doing real work, our industry will never reach the scale we need to achieve true market transformation. The problem is real. We need to make sure people are aware and encourage others to join our efforts. The rewards of being part of something that is helping build the future for upcoming generations is exciting. We need to support young folks and encourage them to be a part of building the clean energy future.

Charles Cormany
Executive Director
Efficiency First California

Read Charley's other blog posts >>

Image from iStock.

This blog originally appeared on www.efficiencyfirstca.org.
 First Rooftop Whole House Fan for Homes without Attics tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-24:6069565:BlogPost:216849 2017-04-24T15:07:46.000Z Kurt Shafer http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/KurtShafer
Eichler was one of the most famous Mid Century Modern home builders in the 50s and 60s. His homes are all over California. Owners of his designs have not had a whole house fan to help cool their homes until now.

I just invented the first rooftop to pull 8000 CFM at just 505 watts through a 20 inch throat. The top can be hidden by a chimney looking enclosure and the bottom inside the home by a faux cabinet.

See more at http://www,/ThorwaldsonRooftopWholeHouseFans.com

Eichler was one of the most famous Mid Century Modern home builders in the 50s and 60s. His homes are all over California. Owners of his designs have not had a whole house fan to help cool their homes until now.

I just invented the first rooftop to pull 8000 CFM at just 505 watts through a 20 inch throat. The top can be hidden by a chimney looking enclosure and the bottom inside the home by a faux cabinet.

See more at http://www,/ThorwaldsonRooftopWholeHouseFans.com
 Women in Building Performance: Jamie Peters tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-17:6069565:BlogPost:216596 2017-04-17T19:43:28.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine

 Jamie Peters is the Director of Client Solutions at EnergySavvy, a software company that aims to transform the way utilities interact with and serve their customers. Peters brings seven years of energy efficiency program experience to EnergySavvy, including launching…

Jamie Peters is the Director of Client Solutions at EnergySavvy, a software company that aims to transform the way utilities interact with and serve their customers. Peters brings seven years of energy efficiency program experience to EnergySavvy, including launching Illinois' first statewide Home Performance with Energy Star program, managing large-scale prescriptive and direct install utility programs, and developing tools and training for residential contractors.

Lindsay Bachman Flickinger: How did you get started in the energy efficiency industry?

Jamie Peters: I was lucky enough to get introduced to energy efficiency in the workplace through my job as sustainability manager at Lincoln Park Zoo, where I did some lighting retrofit projects. When searching for my next job, I decided to focus on energy—out of all the possible green business/sustainable pathways—since it had the biggest impact on climate change and there is often a positive business case. My next job was at the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA)...and the rest is history.

LBF: What has been your greatest accomplishment so far?

JP: My greatest accomplishment is two-fold: First, from my days at MEEA, building Illinois' first ever statewide Home Performance with Energy Star program from the ground up. I am really proud of this since the program is still running today, 7 years later, and has gone on to win the Energy Star Partner of the Year award. Tied for first place is successfully transitioning into sales and business development as a Director of Client Solutions at EnergySavvy, where I have had the unique opportunity to grow our business within the Midwest 18 times over the past 3.5 years.

LBF: When you started out, what were some of the challenges you faced and how did you overcome these?

JP: My biggest challenge has always been wanting to go further and faster than is often possible. One of my past managers offered the sage advice that sometimes change can feel small but it absolutely required to "turn the ship". I keep this in mind and keep on moving forward, doing what I can.

LBF: What is the most rewarding thing about your job?

JP: The most rewarding thing is knowing that I don't just have a job—I am working towards something I really believe in. I wouldn't have it any other way.

LBF: In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges for women in this industry?

JP: Working at a software company within the utility/energy industry, women make up a doubly low portion of the people I encounter through my job. This does not have to be a challenge in and of itself but it does occasionally keep me on my toes. It is unfortunately still the case that a woman's actions can be interpreted differently than something identical completed by a man. We all need to be vigilant about recognizing and disrupting biases. Of course, this is not just about women—increasing diversity more broadly in the green/clean tech space is incredibly important since we all benefit from diversity of backgrounds and thought.

LBF: What advice would you give to a woman starting out in the industry?

JP: Trust yourself! And don't be afraid to speak up and stand up for yourself and others.

Lindsay Bachman Flickinger is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Home Performance Coalition (HPC). She strategizes, publicizes, and transforms PR and media messaging for the conference, policy, and project aspects of HPC and plays an integral role in developing and maintaining the coalition partner relationships.

 Save energy with motion detectors and dimmers tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-17:6069565:BlogPost:216629 2017-04-17T15:53:13.000Z Dave http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/Dave456
Dimming the lights and adding motion detection lighting is another way to control energy costs and put savings back in your wallet.…

Dimming the lights and adding motion detection lighting is another way to control energy costs and put savings back in your wallet.

Installing dimmers to the light switches you use most, is the first place to start. Dimmers can enhance the decor and ambiance of any room by giving you complete control over the light levels. More importantly it will save you money in the process.

Imagine sitting in your living room, reading to a single candle or having a romantic dinner with every light in the dining room turned on. Because we need to use some rooms for multiple purposes, dimmers give us the ability to adjust the light levels from nearly dark to fully lit, simply by turning a knob or sliding a lever. Always remember to choose the best dimmer switch for your bulbs to avoid flickering and other problems.

Dimming the lights just 25 percent, saves you an average of twenty percent in energy costs, not to mention it extends lamp life.

Now let's talk about motion detection lighting.

Lighting plays an important role in security around your home.

A motion detector turns outdoor lights on and off when luminous detective. Making it ideal for security and energy management.

It's also convenience and safety for you because it can light the way to your house when you come home at night. This is especially helpful if your hands are full.

By replacing your home's five most frequently used light fixtures or the bulbs in them with Energy Star qualified models you can save seventy dollars each year and it's one of the easiest home improvement projects you can do yourself.

Dimmers and motion detectors are an easy and cost-effective way to give you control of your lighting in and outside of your house.

 Why Builders Should Care About Grade I Installation tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-11:6069565:BlogPost:216359 2017-04-11T18:19:35.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Quality installation of insulation matters and if builders aren't getting RESNET Grade I installation with fiberglass batts then they're getting a HERS-score penalty, says new fact…

Quality installation of insulation matters and if builders aren't getting RESNET Grade I installation with fiberglass batts then they're getting a HERS-score penalty, says new fact sheet on Grade I installation of batt insulation from NAIMA/Insulation Institute.

The RESNET-developed rating system for batt insulation installation includes descriptions of Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III jobs. Grade I is top-quality work and while building code officials rarely fail an insulation installation job, not meeting Grade I criteria is commonplace. The fact sheet explains that builders take a HERS-score penalty for any installation job that's not Grade I. The penalty for a Grade III job, versus a Grade I, can range from 1.73 to 6.27 points, depending on the climate zone of the home.

How to Get Grade I

"Getting RESNET Grade I requires technical training and a commitment to a quality management process that builders, HERS raters and insulation contractors must work collaboratively to achieve," said NAIMA VP Marketing and Communications Jordan Doria. Poor installation can compromise a home's performance, leading to higher energy bills and increased customer call backs for comfort issues. "Our fact sheet shows builders that achieving Grade I installation doesn't require a huge amount of extra work, but rather teamwork, training, setting clear expectations and a commitment to quality control and inspection."

High performance home programs like Energy Star and DOE's Zero Energy Ready homes require Grade I installation. In addition, many utility incentive programs require Grade I for eligibility. But, often times insulation contractor work crews lack the training to deliver Grade I and they are expected to complete the job as quickly as possible, which can lead to substandard work. To get better quality installs, builders must make Grade I installation a written goal, empower the HERS rater as the guarantor of quality and ensure that the superintendent knows the quality goal so that he can reinforce it with the contractors handling the job.

If Grade I is the goal, following the guidance in the fact sheet will help achieve it in a reliable and repeatable manner. Clear goals, communication and a team mentality are the keys to achieving consistent quality installation.

The fact sheet on recommended practices to achieve repeatable Grade I installations is available on the Insulation Institute website.

Stacy Fitzgerald-Redd is the Director of Marketing & Communications for the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA).

This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 Always Learning: Elevator Bill Expands His Building Science Toolbox with Passive House tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-07:6069565:BlogPost:216268 2017-04-07T14:00:00.000Z Amber Vignieri http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AmberVignieri
 We're always looking to advance our skills and deepen our expertise in building science; it's the foundation of our work! The knowledge our staff has of building science is essential when they're out in the field looking for opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. The more possible upgrades they can identify, the more money the people we serve can save. Since we never stop learning at Elevate Energy, Technical Project Lead Bill Lyons recently became one of 1,350…

We're always looking to advance our skills and deepen our expertise in building science; it's the foundation of our work! The knowledge our staff has of building science is essential when they're out in the field looking for opportunities for energy efficiency improvements. The more possible upgrades they can identify, the more money the people we serve can save. Since we never stop learning at Elevate Energy, Technical Project Lead Bill Lyons recently became one of 1,350 Certified Passive House Consultants (CPHC) in North America.

Bill primarily works in the Building Retrofits team, but also provides technical support to our Solar team and New Markets team to model how our services can expand to new areas of the country. His specialty is in building and photovoltaic (PV) system design, and he is currently pursuing his Master's Degree in Energy Engineering at the University of Illinois at Chicago (did we mention we're always trying to learn more here?). Prior to his time at Elevate, Bill worked on urban PV projects and taught high school physics.

The CPHC® certification is a credential training program to help professionals lead the adoption of passive building. So what exactly is passive building? According to the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), it's a set of design principles used to attain a quantifiable, rigorous level of energy efficiency within a specific comfort level, with the added goal of trying to reach Net Zero Energy in the most economic means. Passive design strategy models and balances a comprehensive set of factors including heat emissions from appliances and occupants to keep the building at comfortable and consistent temperatures. As a result, passive buildings offer long-term benefits in addition to energy efficiency:

Superinsulation and airtight construction provide comfort even in extreme weather

Continuous mechanical ventilation of fresh filtered air provides high indoor air quality

A comprehensive approach to modeling, design, construction, and performance verification produces resilient buildings

Passive building offers a path to net-zero or net-positive buildings by minimizing the load renewables are required to provide

  "I initially became interested in self-sustaining buildings while looking at underground houses in the 70s and 80. I think Passive House was attractive for me because PHIUS has made a certification system that is based on climate, with the goal of maximizing the investment to be as efficient as possible," said Bill. "I was really drawn to the idea that different climates require different investments and how the Passive House standards allow the owner, designer, and builder the flexibility to achieve energy efficiency. The Passive House principles are so in-tune with how we use building science every day here at Elevate, and I wanted to learn about them in more depth." Photo (at right) credit: PHIUS

"It's one thing to know that insulation can boost efficiency, it's another to know that you can't just slap it on to a building, as this will risk moisture issues and other problems," said Bill. "Being able to take that knowledge a step further and apply passive building techniques to improve comfort even further is a neat extra tool I can have in my back pocket."

"What I think of as the original Passive House is actually in downstate Illinois. It was built in the 1970s in response to the energy crisis," said Bill. There was a strong movement that died out as the US turned away from efficiency, but the model was picked up and further developed as Passivhaus in Germany. Now the model has been adapted for the varied climates in the US and even 'non-house' buildings like multifamily and retrofits. "It's a really great time to both be at Elevate and get the certification as the standards evolve," said Bill.

We're looking forward to seeing how these principles can apply to our retrofit work, and we'll keep learning more to broaden our knowledge. Call us passive for now, but we're never idle for long!
 Do Low Flow Showerheads Save Water? tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-04-03:6069565:BlogPost:216174 2017-04-03T15:05:55.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Did you know that, on average, people take 0.69 showers per day?

Did you know that the average shower lasts 7.8 minutes?

Did you know that showering uses a lot of water? Showering currently accounts for almost 20% of all indoor residential water demand!

There is no question that many people want to be environmentally responsible and use our natural resources—including water—more…

Did you know that, on average, people take 0.69 showers per day?

Did you know that the average shower lasts 7.8 minutes?

Did you know that showering uses a lot of water? Showering currently accounts for almost 20% of all indoor residential water demand!

There is no question that many people want to be environmentally responsible and use our natural resources—including water—more efficiently. But do low flow showerheads actually save water? Or do lower flow rates simply mean people take longer showers—thus negating any potential water savings?

To answer this question, Bill Gauley and John Koeller analyzed data for more than 50,000 shower events [1]! Shower volumes were determined by multiplying the flow rate by the duration. The results were very clear (see Figure 1 below).

People do not significantly compensate for lower flow rates by increasing the length of their shower. For every 0.2 gallon per minute (gpm) decrease in flow rate, shower duration only increased by about 5 seconds.

Lower flow showerheads do result in a lower overall shower volume. For every 0.2 gpm decrease in flow rate, shower volume decreased by 1.34 gallons

In fact, it seems that people tend to follow their own unique routine for showering regardless of the flow rate of the showerhead (at least for those showers between flow rates of 1.0 to 4.0 gpm). For example, if you take an 8-minute shower with a flow rate of 2.5 gpm (the current federal standard), then you are likely to take an 8-minute and 12-second shower with a flow rate of 2.0 gpm (the current U.S. EPA WaterSense® standard). But the total water used during your shower will decline from 20.0 gallons to only about 16.4 gallons!

While studies have shown that people tend to prefer higher flow rate showerheads [2], the results of this analysis clearly show that water savings can be achieved by using lower flow rate showerheads. As a result, water and energy utilities interested in achieving higher levels of water savings are rebating high-performance low flow rate showerheads.

The complete report can be found here.

Please send any questions to the authors:

Bill Gauley, P.Eng., Principal, Gauley Associates Ltd., firstname.lastname@example.com

John Koeller, P.E., Principal, Koeller & Company, email@example.com

[1] Data from 1999 and 2016 Residential End Uses of Water Studies (REUS1999 and REUS2016) completed by Aquacraft, Inc. Data provided by Co-Principal Investigator, Peter Mayer, P.E.

[2] High-Efficiency Showerhead Performance Study, 2009, Gauley, Robinson, Elton. Report can be found at: http://www.map-testing.com/assets/files/Veritec-Waterloo%20Final%20Report%20Dec%202009%20copy.pdf

This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 The Elephant in the Room tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-28:6069565:BlogPost:216016 2017-03-28T04:30:00.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
Last week I attended the annual Home Performance Coalition (HPC) Conference & Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee. (Along with 1,900 other people!)

One of my favorite sessions included Kara Saul-Rinaldi, the Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy at HPC. With over 20 years of experience in policy and communications strategy and legislative and regulatory experience, Kara has worked for members of Congress, testified before congressional committees, and appeared in a…

Last week I attended the annual Home Performance Coalition (HPC) Conference & Trade Show in Nashville, Tennessee. (Along with 1,900 other people!)

One of my favorite sessions included Kara Saul-Rinaldi, the Vice President of Government Affairs and Policy at HPC. With over 20 years of experience in policy and communications strategy and legislative and regulatory experience, Kara has worked for members of Congress, testified before congressional committees, and appeared in a variety of media outlets as a leading energy and climate policy expert.

She was on a panel on Tuesday night at the HPC conference, which was led by Chris Dorsi of HabitatX. This was part 2 of a discussion that took place the evening before, "The Elephant In the Room". (Think donkeys and elephants.) With her experience with Congress people, Kara knows what works and what doesn't in regards to persuading a member of Congress to support energy efficiency legislation.

She told a story that stood out:

During the recession, Kara went with a group of efficiency stakeholders to a Congressional leader to lobby for a piece of legislation that would advance home performance contractors. With her was the owner of a small home performance company from the district of this congressman. Getting this contractor to talk was like pulling teeth, but she finally convinced him to speak up. He said, "I had ten trucks, but now I only have one. If you pass this legislation, I'll have ten trucks again, maybe more."

It was a simple as that—and the Congressional leader knew that more trucks meant more business, and that meant more jobs.

"That man and his few words were worth thousands of PAC dollars," Kara said.

I was reminded that committed individuals can make a big difference even if the politics of the moment seem dire.

- Jim Gunshinan

Jim Gunshinan is the Editor of Home Energy. Macie Melendez also contributed to this blog.
 Crowdsourcing for Innovation tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-24:6069565:BlogPost:216105 2017-03-24T14:30:00.000Z Sarah OConnell http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/SarahOConnell452

 Share Your Ideas!

Novel Building Envelope Design for Increased Thermal Performance

In 2014, more than 40% of US primary energy and 70% of electricity was consumed in residential and commercial buildings, resulting in annual energy costs of more than…

Share Your Ideas!

Novel Building Envelope Design for Increased Thermal Performance

In 2014, more than 40% of US primary energy and 70% of electricity was consumed in residential and commercial buildings, resulting in annual energy costs of more than $430 billion. The envelope of the building, which refers to the external walls, windows, roof, and floor of a building, is the thermal barrier between the indoor and outdoor environment and one of the primary determinants of energy use to maintain indoor comfort. Through its online crowdsourcing platform, JUMP, Oak Ridge National Laboratory is looking for ideas to improve the performance of the building envelope. The challenge is to develop a new material or an installation method that uses readily available products to improve the thermal performance and air tightness of a wall assembly, without compromising the durability of the wall assembly.

Learn more about this challenge and share your ideas today!
 Don MacOdrum receives BPI's 2017 Tony Woods Award! tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-23:6069565:BlogPost:215795 2017-03-23T13:17:20.000Z Diane Chojnowski http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/DianeChojnowski
 BPI has honored Don MacOdrum, Executive Director at the Home Performance Guild of…

BPI has honored Don MacOdrum, Executive Director at the Home Performance Guild of Oregon, with the 2017 Tony Woods Award for Excellence in Advancing the Home Performance Industry.

MacOdrum was nominated by industry peers and selected by an independent panel of judges for his tireless efforts in creating, and professionalizing, the home performance industry in Oregon. MacOdrum successfully led a coalition of contractors, realtors, lenders, and inspectors over the past year to establish the City of Portland's Home Energy Score Ordinance for all homes sold. This ordinance sets an example for other cities and states looking to collaborate with realtors, appraisers, and lenders.

"Don's promotion of public energy efficiency policies is one of his greatest strengths," said Larry Zarker, BPI Chief Executive Officer. "In the past year alone, he led the City of Portland's push to require the DOE Home Energy Score during real estate transactions."

BPI developed the Tony Woods Award to honor the former president of Canam Building Envelope Specialists Inc. and ZERODRAFT®, and a pioneer of the home performance industry. During his career, Woods served as a volunteer board member with BPI and ACI, as president of the Ontario Building Envelope Council, and on more than ten standards committees dealing with air leakage control, air barriers, and ventilation. Woods passed away after a battle with leukemia in 2009.

 Balancing Act: Solving Airflow Issues in HVAC Systems tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-14:6069565:BlogPost:215459 2017-03-14T17:33:49.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Today's homeowner is more concerned with energy efficiency than ever before. A National Association of Home Builders September 2016 survey found that energy-saving appliances were at or near the top of the must-have feature list for 80 percent of new home buyers. In January, the association released the…

Today's homeowner is more concerned with energy efficiency than ever before. A National Association of Home Builders September 2016 survey found that energy-saving appliances were at or near the top of the must-have feature list for 80 percent of new home buyers. In January, the association released the results of another study that revealed homebuyers across all income brackets are increasingly choosing homes with energy-saving elements, as well as other amenities, and will sacrifice square footage to get them.

These same buyers surely want to maximize the efficiency of all the electrical and mechanical systems in their homes, and that includes their HVAC systems. Efficiency, however, is not only a cost-savings issue. It's a comfort issue as well, and one only has to be on the receiving end of frustrated customer telephone calls a few times to realize just how prized a properly functioning climate control system can be.

Issues with New Systems

It's not just older systems that can exhibit substandard performance levels. According to the National Comfort Institute, 50 percent of new systems have efficiency and comfort issues right out of the box. The Energy Star program uses that same figure, also citing that incorrect installs reduce new system functionality by up to 30 percent.

Combine those systems with those that have suffered at the hands of well-meaning DIYers—home insulation projects that damage ductwork, decorative elements blocking thermostats or returns—and one can begin to see the need for qualified technicians who can set things right. One word about qualifications: No HVAC contractor should test and balance before being properly trained to do so.

Symptoms of Airflow Problems

From my time as a contractor, I've heard several common homeowner complaints about ducted systems indicate that the issue could require testing for balanced airflow.

Lack of consistent temperatures

The homeowner notices significant temperature variations from room to room, sometimes even within the same room. This is one of the most common complaints around "unbalanced" systems.

Inconsistent airflow from register to register

Despite all registers being 100 percent open, the homeowner reports that there is a difference in the strength of airflow from one register to another.

Condensation

The homeowner has noticed higher humidity in one or two rooms—indicating lack of airflow—and increased dust or "flotsam and jetsam" in another, a sign of too much airflow.

Testing for Airflow Problems

Contractors should take the following steps to test a system for balanced airflow, according to a Contracting Business article by Rob Falke, president of the NCI. This process can also be used to test new systems as well.

Gather information about the equipment, and, using Manual J or other estimating tools, determine the required airflow for each room, as well as relevant pressure, horsepower and other benchmarks.

Make sure you have the proper tools on hand. This includes air testing equipment like balometers and manometers, as well as basic power tools like a drill or cordless saw to fix any structural problems you may find. Have your standard hand tools at the ready as well.

Draw a rough sketch of the system and number the registers and return grilles in the planned order of testing.

Inspect the entire system and rectify obvious issues like disconnected ducts, closed dampers and dirty air filters.

Start the system into full operation, set to either heating or cooling.

Drill test ports for static pressure and temperature tests before and after air moving equipment and a port five feet after the cooling coil to get a temperature reading.

Measure airflow from the registers and return the grilles according to the rough sketch from Step 2, using a commercial balancing hood. Add the register airflow figures together and the return grille airflow figures.

Adjust the fan to obtain the correct cubic feet per minute in the information from Step 1.

Test the register, return the grilles and compare the results to the information gathered in Step 1, making a note of those that have 110 percent of the prescribed airflow. Close those until the correct airflow is achieved. Repeat with return grilles.

Retest to verify and record the successful damper settings.

Continue testing and measuring items that appear on an NCI or other industry standard air balance report, including metrics like total external static pressure, fan speed and temperature changes.

Solving Airflow Issues

It could be that the adjustments made during testing don't resolve the airflow issues. Leaks or damaged ductwork can be the cause of irregular airflow through the system, so a repair or renovation of the ductwork could be in order. If the ductwork that was originally installed with the system can't handle the airflow, then a total replacement might be in order.

Airflow testing is a great starting point for contractors as it allows them to obtain a clearer picture of the entire system. Additional investigation may be needed.

- Kim Slowey

Kim Slowey is a freelance writer based in Florida. She has a degree in journalism but spent over 25 years in the construction industry and is still a Florida certified general contractor. Kim currently covers commercial and residential construction and real estate for publications such as Construction Dive and Forbes. Kim also writes about energy, HVAC and tools topics for The Home Depot.

This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 Let's Party! A New Way to Learn About Home Energy Use tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-10:6069565:BlogPost:215446 2017-03-10T17:05:44.000Z Amber Vignieri http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AmberVignieri
We went to the best house party—no, not an all-night blow-out, but a small get-together hosted by real estate broker Dan Razowsky. This particular house party was to help Dan, his parents, and their friends become more educated about energy use and energy efficiency in their homes, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.

At an Elevate Energy house…

We went to the best house party—no, not an all-night blow-out, but a small get-together hosted by real estate broker Dan Razowsky. This particular house party was to help Dan, his parents, and their friends become more educated about energy use and energy efficiency in their homes, and we were thrilled to be a part of it.

At an Elevate Energy house party, a homeowner invites their friends and neighbors over to learn how to improve the energy efficiency of their homes and save money on their energy bills. Attendees get to play around with neat tools like infrared cameras to get an idea of what's done during an energy assessment, and learn about different efficiency improvements that can be identified during the assessment. Guests often learn that these improvements, such as air sealing and insulation, aren't disruptive or invasive, and can be very affordable. House party hosts receive a free energy assessment as a thank you.

Elevators Elizabeth Corrado and Lana Panitch led the presentation at Dan's parent's home in the Chicago suburbs. "I met Elizabeth at the GreenBuilt Home Tour, and after digging deeper into what I learned, I realized energy efficiency is really aligned with what I want to do in my business at Yellow Brick Properties—when you purchase a home, you have the option to potentially buy an efficient home or to reduce the energy use of an older home," said Dan. "Understanding and minimizing home energy use can mitigate climate change, and I'm passionate about helping my clients do that."

Elizabeth and Lana discussed the power of the smart grid, dynamic pricing programs like Hourly Pricing, building science basics, and gave a sneak peek of an energy assessment by highlighting a few areas of the home with an infrared camera that were losing energy. "It was so great to have really educated, passionate people like Elizabeth and Lana leading the house party. Their presentation had tons of great visuals, and I feel that 'showing' is so much more effective than just 'telling.'"

Rock star real estate professionals like Dan have the opportunity to enhance their business by being knowledgeable about energy efficiency. "As a real estate broker, you can help your sellers a lot by being able to understand things like Energy Star certificates that you can obtain after a retrofit. They're proven to add value to a home and help it sell more quickly," said Dan. "Brokers are also responsible for disclosing energy costs in the MLS. If a broker is educated about these requirements, they can give more confidence to buyers looking at a listing. What Elevate is doing is super valuable, and I think it should be a requirement for real estate professionals to learn about home energy use."

"For me, the biggest thing is this: if you want to make a difference for the environment, for your clients, and for your business, getting some fun education through a house party is one simple way to do just that," said Dan. Thanks for having us!

Interested in hosting a house part of your own? Contact Anna Markowski at firstname.lastname@example.com.
 Why Do We Need Safety Valve in Boiler? tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-09:6069565:BlogPost:215527 2017-03-09T05:23:00.000Z Thermodyne Boilers http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/ThermodyneBoilers

Safety valve is a fail-safe device that prevents failure under over pressure conditions.

A safety valve is designed to open and relieve excess pressure from boiler by releasing a volume of fluid from within the equipment, when predetermined excess pressure is reached.

If the operating pressure in the system goes above the safe limit of material of construction, it can cause ruinous failure.

To prevent such failure safety valves…

Safety valve is a fail-safe device that prevents failure under over pressure conditions.

A safety valve is designed to open and relieve excess pressure from boiler by releasing a volume of fluid from within the equipment, when predetermined excess pressure is reached.

If the operating pressure in the system goes above the safe limit of material of construction, it can cause ruinous failure.

To prevent such failure safety valves are provided in the boiler.

Also read – The Ultimate Guide For Energy Savings In Forging Industry: Buy Now or Later?

Safety valve is the most important safety fitting as it is fitted to prevent excessive pressure buildup in the boiler. Excessive pressure can lead to boiler explosion. According to FMA regulation 1970, every boiler having a heating surface surpassing 100 square feet must be equipped with two safety valves. One of the safety valves must be of direct spring loaded type mounted vertically. The relieving capacity is determined by boiler capacity at peak load. Safety valve must be set to blow at different pressures. The spindles, moving parts & disk must not be made of material that corrodes easily. The safety valve must be able to discharge steam pressure with a rise of pressure of not greater than 10% of authorized safe working pressure.

Also read – Are You Operating Your Boiler Properly – Safety & Precautions Tips

Thermodyne Engineering Systems is one of the best Industrial boiler manufacturing company in India. The process industry depends on the heat transfer equipment like steam boilers to get the job done, every day. So when you need a trustworthy manufacturer you can call us at +91-9891042944, +91-9990212122. Our goal is to ensure your system's safety, maximize your efficiency and minimize your downtime. When you call our trained service technicians, you are calling for outstanding service to keep your boiler in top health. For any queries mail us at: email@example.com
 How to Hook Every Type of Homeowner tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-08:6069565:BlogPost:215506 2017-03-08T16:00:00.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 When homeowners have an HVACR need, 80 to 90 percent begin their search for a provider on the Internet. Braving the wilds of the web, they'll click and click, scroll and scroll, evaluating the appeal of you and your competition to find the best provider for their job.

But between the time they start searching, and the time they pick up the phone to call a provider, homeowners can engage in a complex set…

When homeowners have an HVACR need, 80 to 90 percent begin their search for a provider on the Internet. Braving the wilds of the web, they'll click and click, scroll and scroll, evaluating the appeal of you and your competition to find the best provider for their job.

But between the time they start searching, and the time they pick up the phone to call a provider, homeowners can engage in a complex set of online behaviors with which most HVACR contractors are not terribly familiar.

Usually, these homeowner behaviors fall into five distinct personality types. Each personality goes through a different process before they make a purchasing decision.

Knowing how to appeal to these personalities is the first step to making sure they pick up the phone. Their online behavior is the key to generating fantastic leads.

The Straight Arrow

Straight Arrows are your favorite customers. They know what they want and they're ready to buy. They're strong decision-makers and are guided by intuition. You love them the most because they make fast choices.

Typically, time is the most valuable commodity for Straight Arrows. Both members of the home usually work full time jobsand their children are equally busy with extra-curricular activities. This means they literally don't have the time for a lengthy consultation. They want a friction-free process and they want it NOW. This is particularly true when Straight Arrows have a heating emergency — their schedules don't allow for it.

This also holds true for non-emergency products and services such as a furnace replacement or a new AC unit installation. Straight Arrows make decisions quickly — even for higher ticket projects. It's not that they need these projects done immediately, it's that they don't have weeks to audition three or four providers before making a choice. Straight Arrows are trying to cut the process down ahead of time by zeroing in on a quality provider first, not play a host of HVACR companies against one another.

For Straight Arrows, the process needs to be as hassle-free as possible. When they're on your website, they'll look for your contact information, web form and other elements to see how easy it is to work with you.

Make it as easy as possible. When the phone rings, answer it. When they submit a form to your site, call that homeowner right back.

The easier you make it, the more likely Straight Arrows are to buy what you're selling. And the bonus? They aren't looking for every last nickel. Often Straight Arrows are more interested in speed and convenience than the lowest possible price.

The Reputation Detective

When a Reputation Detective comes across your website, the first thing they're going to do is Google your company name. They will visit sites such as Yelp, Angie's List and the BBB to look at your overall ratings and reviews. They're looking for feedback from your customers, good or bad.

The Reputation Detective's main objective is to understand what the experience will be like if they choose your company. They want to know what to expect. And they want to be sure they are going to hire an HVACR contractor who is going to solve their problem competently and completely.

As with Straight Arrows, they aren't as concerned with getting the best price. They're okay with spending, as long as they're convinced you're not going to scam them, or leave a job half done.

Trust is the most important quality to the Reputation Detective. To engage this personality, your website should show that you're not a shoddy, fly-by-night operation. Include industry affiliations, certifications and testimonials. You want to show them you're going to be around in five years and you're still going to be the best HVACR contractor in the area.

The Product Geek

The Product Geek relishes the opportunity to learn more. When they need a new HVACR system, they're going to dig up as much information as possible. They likely have a never-ending parade of browser tabs open, comparing heating and cooling systems, brands and warranties.

Basically, they want to know the products as well as your sales reps do. And by offering as much information as possible on your website, you can satisfy their data needs. Product specifications, energy efficiency ratings and brands you carry are all important details to the Product Geek.

By adding the information the Product Geek craves, you'll not only make it easier for them to get what they need, but you'll also improve your search engine rankings. The idea is to keep them on your site as long as possible, so they're more likely to pick up the phone or submit a contact form. And make sure your sales reps are prepared to talk shop with them.

We all know that the Internet is full of poor information, misinformation and errant legacy information that can confuse homeowners. But if you can be the beacon of information in a confusing online world, you'll be better off for it.

The Price Monster

Generally, it's a bummer when prospects think about the price point first. These homeowners are difficult to set appointments with, difficult to sell to and difficult to close. But, even in a strong economy, Price Monsters are everywhere.

When this personality comes across your website, they only see dollar signs. They're the ones searching with terms such as "cheap" and "affordable." And while that comes off as price-obsessive, they're actually more interested in the amount of money they'll save by choosing you.

The challenge with Price Monsters doesn't come from your products or your sales techniques, but from Google. When homeowners search for physical HVACR products, retail listings will display high on the search results page. So, they have first-hand knowledge of how much that replacement valve will cost, or how much a new AC unit is going for.

Of course, Price Monsters aren't taking into account the installation, craftsmanship and design involved in building the system. Even so, they'll often price condition themselves based on what they see on the search engine results pages (SERPs). So, it's your job to communicate that those low-priced products deliver low quality results. You want to sell them on getting the best possible value.

You can do that a couple different ways. First, sell the value of the visit. There's real value in the homeowner setting up an in-person consultation. Certainly some HVACR prospects will demand pricing over the phone, or at least a ballpark.

If you're going to provide that information, at least wait to be asked. Many jobs can't accurately be priced until a technician is on site. But once they're in the home, your team can properly present the problem and the appropriate pricing, in-person.

Second, make strong offers on your website. You can do this with a coupon, a posted discount or as a carryover from your offline advertising. These hooks will grab Price Monsters and get them to call you. Remember, you're not trying to sell based on your offer, you're just trying to get a lead. Your sales team can take it from there.

The Well-Wired

Well-Wired homeowners are the fastest growing group out of all the personalities. They do their fair share of online research, but they approach it a different way. When they come across your company, they'll go straight to their social networks and poll their friends and followers.

It usually looks something like this: a homeowner gets on Facebook or Twitter and writes, "Have any of you ever used XYZ for HVACR repair?" People will respond helpfully — "I've heard good things" or "My brother used them, their system works great."

In short, Well-Wired homeowners want real-time feedback from people they know and trust.

Well-Wired homeowners will also check out your social media presence and might even try to engage. They're active Facebook and Twitter users, and they'll evaluate your company based on your posts. They want to know you're active and interested in using this platform of communication. They want to have something in common with you.

Well-Wired homeowners are typically younger. As time moves on, they will become a higher percentage of lead types. So, it's a good idea to get started on using social media to target prospective customers. Keep those feeds fresh, positive and active.

Give Them What They Want

The one great thing about marketing to homeowners is that they've already made the decision on some level to improve their HVACR systems. The key to getting good leads is to give your potential customers what they want, so they can make the right choice.

If you can give your sales team a better understanding of what their prospects are doing online, they're going to be more successful when selling your services in the home. Then, you can watch the magic happen.

 This article originally appeared on www.HVACRBusiness.com.
 Energy (Oil, Natural Gas, Electricity, and Renewables) Outlook for Homes and Businesses in 2017 tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-06:6069565:BlogPost:215607 2017-03-06T20:00:00.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Please keep in mind that while the information presented here is valuable, it's important to remember that predictions can and often do change over time. This information was compiled from industry publications.

Oil Forecasts

Exxon Mobile released a report earlier this year called, Exxon Mobile's…

Please keep in mind that while the information presented here is valuable, it's important to remember that predictions can and often do change over time. This information was compiled from industry publications.

Oil Forecasts

Exxon Mobile released a report earlier this year called, Exxon Mobile's Outlook for Energy: Journey to 2040. This report predicts that out of all fuel types, oil will remain the number one source of demand for the world's energy needs. In particular, oil will help to continue support the transportation and chemical industries.

Predicting oil prices seems to pose a bit of a challenge for many experts in the industry. For example, according to an article on oilprice.com in late 2016, investment banks and other companies predicted that oil would remain around $50 to $60 USD. However, in early February of that same year, some experts had expected oil to reach $70 USD and higher at the end of this year and into 2018. Other experts stated that they believed oil would reach $10 USD—which never happened.

Predictions for 2017 remain just as uncertain, as experts face many questions, some of which include:

Will OPEC deliver promised cuts?

Will the above mentioned cuts help to rebalance the market?

How quickly will/would the United States shale industry bounce back?

What effect would a rebound have on industry rates?

Natural Gas Vs. Coal

According to the Energy Information Administration's (EIA) Annual Energy Outlook 2017, this year, the United States is going to start to see an increase in some of the types of energy used, particularly in natural gas and natural resources. Meanwhile, other energy types that used to be some of the most used sources of energy in America, are going to experience a decline. This is particularly applicable for coal.

The reason for this change is due to the fact that the price of natural gas is currently much lower compared to other resources. This trend is expected to continue into 2017 and beyond. Both the Clean Power Plan (CPP) and many new tax credits are also expected to have an impact on resources that are less fuel efficient, like coal. Overall, EIA predicts that natural gas and other renewable sources of energy will take the lead in terms of new generation, which will help combat the increase in electricity demand towards the end of the year.

Other Renewable Energies

EIA also predicts that 2017 will have Americans relying on more electricity that is generated by wind and solar technologies. This increase in demand will in part be caused by new state Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and the CPP. Many consumers will also take advantage of the production tax credits associated to implementing wind generation technologies before they expire.

In addition, solar power is expected to eventually exceed hydroelectric power generation. This shift will have a lot to do with the tax credits, technology improvements and lower costs now associated with solar panels and installation.

Increase in Electricity Demand

While there is going to be an increase in electricity demand, that increase is going to be much lower compared to previous years included in EIA's research.

The main reason why growth demand will slow in 2017 is because much of the outdated equipment used to generate or provide electricity to residences and businesses within the United States has been upgraded in some way, shape or form. These upgrades will help to increase the energy efficiency in many areas—especially those that rely on new appliance and lighting technologies. Renewable resources will also see a similar growth increase this year thanks to technologies like, photovoltaic (PV) solar panels.

United States Electricity Rates for 2017

While it's important to understand the kinds of shifts that the American energy industry will experience over the course of 2017, it is also important to explore the impact of these changes on the rates consumers can expect to see.

It is impossible to guess the exact rates customers will see over the course of the year, however, based on research conducted by the EIA, we know that overall electricity sales will be 0.9% higher than last year. Residential rates are expected to rise at least by 3% by the end of the year. In the business sector of the United States, commercial will also grow about 0.9% and industrial approximately, 1.2%.

Average electricity rates by sector are expected to reach: 12.87 cents per kWh for residential, 10.58 cents per kWh for commercial and 6.87 cents per kWh for industrial.

The EIA has based these predictions off of the fact that winter temperatures early on this year are expected to be much colder compared to previous years.

Global Emission Increase

According to Exxon Mobile's Outlook for Energy: Journey to 2040 report, the world will see an increase in electricity demand, one that goes hand in hand with the expected increase in total population.

According to the report, by 2040, the world's population will reach 9 billion. This is an increase of 1.8 billion people over 23 years. As a result, the demand for electricity will rise, along with global emissions. However, global emissions are estimated to only rise by 10% until 2030. By this time, and well afterward, emissions are predicted to drop.

The reason for the decline will be in thanks to the efforts the world makes today in turning towards more energy efficient options. This includes, more efficient fuels for transportation, building and office upgrades, as well as using more fossil fuels and renewable energies.

- Shawn Weeks

Shawn Weeks is relatively new to the energy industry. He joined Eisenbach Consulting, LLC, an energy management and procurement company based in Texas, in 2015.
 Survey: 9 of 10 Americans Want to Protect the Environment, But They're Focusing on the Wrong Things tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-03-02:6069565:BlogPost:215186 2017-03-02T17:00:00.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 A new national survey finds good news for the environment: Nine out of 10 Americans believe the average person should be taking concrete steps to reduce his or her environmental impact. And two-thirds think that personal energy conservation habits can make a real difference in preventing climate change.

The only catch, according to the new survey conducted by…

A new national survey finds good news for the environment: Nine out of 10 Americans believe the average person should be taking concrete steps to reduce his or her environmental impact. And two-thirds think that personal energy conservation habits can make a real difference in preventing climate change.

The only catch, according to the new survey conducted by Knoxville-based Shelton Group: The things Americans are prioritizing in their own lives don't have the most environmental impact.

"People need to be inspired to take positive action," said Suzanne Shelton, President and CEO of Shelton Group, a marketing firm specializing in energy and the environment. "And what will inspire Americans to save energy? Hearing that it will help protect the environment.

"Americans are feeling increasingly anxious about the climate and want to do something, so saving the planet is a much more powerful motivator than saving a few bucks a year on your utility bill," Shelton added.

The national poll, Shelton's 11th annual Energy Pulse survey, discovered that Americans care deeply about the environment, and want to take action to help. A full 90 percent say the average person should be taking concrete steps to reduce his or her environmental impact. And 67 percent think that personal energy conservation habits can make a real difference in preventing climate change.

But most Americans don't recognize the importance of improving the efficiency of their homes.

Only 6 percent of Americans knew that the No. 1 manmade cause of climate change is the energy we use in our homes. The EPA reports that 30 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions is created by generating electricity.

Shelton's Eco Pulse survey found that just 49 percent of Americans selected "reduce household energy use" as one of the top three things you should do to minimize your environmental impact.

But experts say that's one of the best opportunities to help. The federal government notes that two-thirds of U.S. electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. And most of that electricity is being used for heating and cooling.

"Most Americans don't understand that finding ways to reduce their heating and air-conditioning use is one of the best ways to help the environment on a daily basis," Shelton said.

The survey found 84 percent of Americans say they know only a little or nothing about what to do to improve their home's energy efficiency. That knowledge gap is holding them back from making improvements.

For example, many Americans have old heating and air conditioning systems (HVACs) and an extra refrigerator or freezer – all of which use a significant amount of electricity. The survey found 44 percent of Americans have an HVAC unit that's 15 years or older. And six of 10 Americans (59 percent) have two or more refrigerators or freezers.

"Clearly, all of us could be saving more energy than we are now," Shelton said.

Based on the survey's findings, Shelton and her team created new recommendations for utilities and marketers of energy-efficient products: Start focusing more on the environmental benefits of saving energy.

"When it comes to energy efficiency messaging, taking positive actions for the environment offers an inspirational angle that other benefits – like saving money – simply can't match," Shelton said. "It's time to start talking about helping the environment."

But there's one caveat, Shelton said. It's important to make people feel inspired – but not guilty. "If you tell consumers that their old, inefficient HVAC systems are pouring tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, they may react by feeling blamed instead of making a smart upgrade," Shelton said. "Instead, we should be tapping into their innate desire to contribute to the common good.

"That means inspiring people to feel like all-stars, even heroes, when they take action to save energy. We should give them a rush of positive emotion, and make them proud for taking action," Shelton said. "Just imagine what would happen if we took practical, unsexy stuff like insulation, old freezers and SEER ratings and connected them to feeling heroic – like a champion for our planet? That's when good things will start happening."

- Lee Ann Head

Lee Ann Head is the VP of research and insight for the Shelton Group.

Shelton Group is the nation's leading marketing communications agency focused exclusively on energy and the environment. Their vision is that every home and building in America is energy responsible and sustainability is ordinary; their purpose is to create a market advantage for the organizations that are creating that energy-responsible, sustainable future.

"Energy Pulse Special Report: Playing the Planet Card" is Shelton Group's 11th annual Energy Pulse study. Each year, Shelton Group explores consumer perceptions and behaviors regarding energy and the environment. The online survey was fielded in September 2016, surveying a total of 2,281 respondents. The margin of error is +/- 2.2%.

Want to learn more? A special report highlighting the findings is available free at http://sheltongrp.com/lp/energy-pulse-special-report-playing-the-planet-card/.
 Art Rosenfeld's Legacy tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-21:6069565:BlogPost:215220 2017-02-21T17:15:33.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Art Rosenfeld, the father of modern energy efficiency, recently passed away. You may not have heard of Art, but he transformed the way you save energy.

So you want to design an energy-efficient home? You'll need to simulate the home's energy use with a model. Art pioneered the computer-based building simulation model and the procedures for estimating energy savings. These same…

Art Rosenfeld, the father of modern energy efficiency, recently passed away. You may not have heard of Art, but he transformed the way you save energy.

So you want to design an energy-efficient home? You'll need to simulate the home's energy use with a model. Art pioneered the computer-based building simulation model and the procedures for estimating energy savings. These same models enabled states and regions to enact performance-based building codes, which are now used worldwide. Without these models you couldn't be sure that the home would coast through the coldest night, and you couldn't accurately size an air conditioner. Virtually every building simulation tool in existence can ultimately be traced back to Art and his research team at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

That efficient home will need efficient appliances. Art proposed the first minimum-efficiency standards for refrigerators and other major appliances. He tirelessly expounded their virtues in Sacramento, Washington, D.C., Beijing, Moscow, and other capitals around the world. You can credit Art for pushing manufacturers to build refrigerators that now use less than a quarter of the electricity that they used at the beginning of his career, despite being larger and having more-versatile features.

Art was early to recognize the importance of reducing air infiltration to save heating energy. But how do you know whether a house is leaky or tight? Enter the blower door. Art's research program standardized the techniques for measuring air infiltration. But he quickly realized that overtight homes made for unhealthy indoor air quality. So he advocated a linked strategy of house tightening and controlled ventilation. He established an entire research program to ensure that tight homes could be healthy homes, too

Finally, efficient buildings need efficient lighting. Art recruited physicists and engineers to develop a new generation of energy-efficient lights. He's one of the reasons that bulbs nowadays draw one-fifth the power of those old incandescent heaters. As for natural lighting, Art's window research program helped develop superwindows that offer as much insulating value as opaque walls. Innovations like these allow us to have new, zero energy homes that don't look like thermos bottles.

Art was a master at evoking unexpected and unforgettable perspectives on energy policy. How leaky were America's windows? So leaky, he told us, that offsetting the heat lost through those windows required the entire output of the Alaskan oil pipeline. The electricity savings from shifting to more-efficient refrigerators he often expressed in units of avoided nuclear power plants (much to the consternation of utility executives).

Art took notice of early research showing that urban heat islands caused higher temperatures, more smog, and created the need for more power-guzzling air conditioners. In response, he and his collaborators developed new materials to reflect solar radiation. Now when you buy an Energy Star roof, it's cooler—and your home uses less AC—because of Art.

Home Energy were grateful to Art for one of our silent founders and supporters. He embedded our editorial offices in his research program on energy-efficient buildings. This enabled Home Energy staff to easily access the best building scientists (including Art).

I am personally grateful to Art because he shaped my career. Art was a professor, but more important, he was a mentor to legions of students, colleagues, and even strangers. He demonstrated that one can be both great and decent, treating everybody with respect while eagerly sharing his curiosity for all things. These are important lessons for all of us.

Will Art Rosenfeld's legacy persist? Pessimists fear that little of it will endure. I disagree. Yes, there will be hiccups, but Art's contributions will outlive temporary political shifts. And in the meantime, Americans everywhere will be saving energy and dollars, and enjoying healthier indoor and outdoor environments, all thanks to Art Rosenfeld.

- Alan Meier is Senior Executive Editor of Home Energy magazine. This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 Real Flame Silverton Ventless Gel Fireplace - White tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-17:6069565:BlogPost:215120 2017-02-17T20:04:33.000Z Ajmain Azraf http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AjmainAzraf
I was looking for a best fire pit for my new home and I found this best fire pit reviews on google. They are awesome reviewer and I convinced to purchase a gel fireplace instead of a fire pit.

I do not just like this fireplace, I absolutely love it! My house does not have an…

I was looking for a best fire pit for my new home and I found this best fire pit reviews on google. They are awesome reviewer and I convinced to purchase a gel fireplace instead of a fire pit.

I do not just like this fireplace, I absolutely love it! My house does not have an in-built wood- burning or gas fireplace and for a long time I thought the only long lasting solution was to install a gas fireplace worth $5000.I also couldn't imagine having to tear my house apart to install a fireplace.

I was so happy when I heard about this Real Flame Silverton Ventless Gel Fireplace. Of course, at first I had my doubts about it just like you would for any item that you have never used and is being sold online.

However, today am really happy that I went ahead to purchase it.

The fireplace looks just exactly as pictured! To me this tops even all the beautiful electric fireplaces I have seen my neighbors with. It is far more stylish and it looks extremely nice and classy. My wife cannot stop talking about the complements she gets from our guests for having this fireplace as an added decoration to our living room.

It looks just like a built-in. It holds three cans of fuel but one is just enough for a beautiful fire. It gives off a wonderful amount of heat that keeps the house really warm. The three cans of fuel burn easily for about three hours. The only thing you should know is that the cans do not burn so well after being snuffed out. We, therefore, do not start a fire unless we have the intention of letting it burn for long enough.

Now here is my favorite part, it CRACKLES!! This adds to the realism of a fireplace with the advantage that there is no smoke and you do not have cleaning up to do. Am glad I got all these for less than $500.I did not have any problem with it from the word go. It arrived well-packaged and the installation process was very easy; I was able to put it together in less than an hour. Just as had been described, I can confirm to you that all the features are real:

1) It is made from solid wood and veneer MDF
 2) It is white
 3) It is safe
 4) It has a powerful flame

purchase includes the hand painted cast-concrete logs and complete spark screen kit, Real Flame gel is an environmentally friendly, clean-burning gel that is toxic-free and leaves no ashes, smoke or even soot behind leaving you with no mess to cleanup.

I also love the fact that environmentally Friendly Real Flame clean-burning gel is safe and tested regularly by quite a number of independent labs. The established standards of (O.S.H.A); Occupational Safety and Health Administration are well put into consideration.
 Real Flame Porter Fireplace in White Finish tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-16:6069565:BlogPost:215113 2017-02-16T21:29:59.000Z Ajmain Azraf http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AjmainAzraf
I decided to order this fireplace after seeing the many positive reviews from people who had made purchases. I really needed a fireplace and I felt like this one would serve my needs quite well. I must say that I was not disappointed. It is far much better that I expected and it actually looks better in my living room that in the picture. I would highly recommend this fireplace to anyone. It is just perfect.…

I decided to order this fireplace after seeing the many positive reviews from people who had made purchases. I really needed a fireplace and I felt like this one would serve my needs quite well. I must say that I was not disappointed. It is far much better that I expected and it actually looks better in my living room that in the picture. I would highly recommend this fireplace to anyone. It is just perfect.

This fireplace looks very realistic. It has a way in which it brings the old-fashioned hearth into the modern context to fit into today's contemporary world. It has a clean-burning flame that is very safe. It produces adequate heat that is capable of feeling my house with great warmth even on the chilliest evenings and nights. It constantly keeps my house cozy and homey.

Just as I had read from a previous review it is true that the gel burns very easily and it leaves absolutely no mess to be cleaned up afterwards. There are no ashes, soot or smoke and this helps to maintain the cleanliness of my house. I am such a clean freak and I can only imagine how much time I would be using to clean up, time that I now just use to write articles for my food blog while enjoying the colorful flames from my fireplace. The fire exactly resembles an ordinary log fire by its bright orange, yellow and red flame. It crackles too making me love it even more.

I was a little worried about the gel because no one had written about how it works. It easily burns away slowly and lasts long enough; usually between two and a half to three hours. When I am not interested in letting it burn for so long, like on evenings when I just need to warm up my house a little, I simply put out the flame and replace the cap on the fire gel can. This helps me save it for later use.

When my package arrived, I immediately got to work. I wanted to put it together and try it; I really wanted to see it at work. It took me less than an hour to assemble because it did not have so much work. I am a woman in my late thirties and I found it very easy to build. The instructions were very precise and clear and I really enjoyed the whole process.

Now I am searching for fire pit for my patio. Does anyone here to share his or her experience. I found this article on Best Fire Pit. But I am little confused which one should I choose.
 Hiring BPI BA Professionals in Philadelphia Area tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-16:6069565:BlogPost:215110 2017-02-16T17:30:00.000Z Robert Post http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/robertpost
Please reach me if interested and we can plan a call to discuss this opportunity. This is a full time residential energy auditor position in the philly area with a national company. Email resume and contact info to: 1robertpost "at" gmail "dot" com.

Please reach me if interested and we can plan a call to discuss this opportunity. This is a full time residential energy auditor position in the philly area with a national company. Email resume and contact info to: 1robertpost "at" gmail "dot" com.
 Demand Response Programs Can Reduce Utilities' Peak Demand by an Average of 10%, Complementing Savings From Energy Efficiency Programs tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-14:6069565:BlogPost:214885 2017-02-14T23:37:39.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Demand response and energy efficiency programs are complementary: energy efficiency reduces both energy use and peak demand while demand response provides additional peak demand reductions. In this blog, we use data to illustrate the importance of each, including some new data on actual savings from demand response programs.

For more than 20 years, ACEEE has been taking a close look at the energy…

Demand response and energy efficiency programs are complementary: energy efficiency reduces both energy use and peak demand while demand response provides additional peak demand reductions. In this blog, we use data to illustrate the importance of each, including some new data on actual savings from demand response programs.

For more than 20 years, ACEEE has been taking a close look at the energy savings from utility-sector energy efficiency programs. In 2015, we estimate that these programs saved about 200 billion kWh, more than 5% of retail electric sales in the United States that year (based on an analysis of data through 2014 and updated to include 2015 savings). In some leading states, the savings from these programs exceed 10% of retail electric sales already and could reach more than 20% by 2020.

These energy efficiency savings also substantially reduce peak energy demand---the time of the day and year when the demand for electricity is highest. For example, we recently reviewed data reported to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) on energy and peak demand savings for 25 program administrators (those reporting the highest total energy savings in 2015 and that together account for more than half of incremental energy savings in 2015). We found that for each 1% reduction in electric sales for a utility, on a median basis, peak demand reductions from efficiency programs are 0.66% of peak demand for that utility. If these trends hold for additional utilities and future years, it would mean that for a utility that reduces retail sales by 15%, the peak demand savings will be around 10%.

These energy savings and peak demand reductions from energy efficiency programs help reduce system costs and avoid outages. Still, many regions face challenges meeting peak demand. This is where demand response comes in. Demand response refers to the various strategies used to reduce loads during peak periods, and shift these loads to periods with lower power demand. Demand response includes a wide variety of strategies including interruptible rates, air conditioner and water heater cycling programs, and pricing programs such as peak time rebates. In a variety of prior studies, ACEEE has estimated that demand response programs can be used to reduce peak demand by 10% or more (for example see our studies on Ohio and South Carolina). These savings are above and beyond the peak savings from energy efficiency programs that we discuss above.

Now that utilities have been running demand response programs for a decade or more, we can assess how much these programs actually save. We looked at energy efficiency and demand response savings data for 2015 (the most recent year available) collected by the EIA, a branch of the US Department of Energy. For demand response, EIA collects two types of numbers – potential and actual reductions measured in megawatts (MW). Potential peak demand savings refers to the total demand savings that could occur at the time of the system peak hour assuming all of an individual utility's in-place demand response strategies are used. Actual peak demand savings are demand reductions achieved by demand response activities, measured at the time of the company's annual system peak hour. Actual savings address the fact that many utilities did not activate all demand response capability in 2015. We looked at all utilities that reported potential demand response savings of 200 MW or more – a total of 28 utilities. These 28 utilities represent 64% of the potential demand response savings reported to EIA, and 58% of the actual reductions reported to EIA.

For these 28 utilities, we found that potential demand response savings ranged from 2-27% of the utility's peak demand, with 10% peak demand savings being the average. Of the 28 utilities, 59% reported potential peak demand savings of 10% or more. Data on the top dozen utilities are reported in the figure below. Actual demand response savings ranged from 0%-24% of utility peak demand, with an average of 4%. Four utilities reported actual demand response savings of more than 10% of their peak demand. Only two utilities reported actual reductions equal to 100% of their potential demand reductions while eight of these utilities either reported zero actual savings or did not provide actual savings data. Of the 25 utilities providing actual savings data, 10 used at least half of their available potential reductions.

These data are reported by each utility to EIA and may contain errors. We did delete a few utilities for which there were obvious errors (a few utilities reported demand response savings in excess of their peak demand!). Further exploration of these data would be useful, such as a better understanding of why some utilities used most of their demand response resources and others very little. For example, utilities that are long on capacity are probably less likely to call much of their available demand response resource. Still, this initial analysis does illustrate that utilities with extensive demand response programs can achieve reductions of more than 10% of system peak if they choose to use these resources.

You can find the data on the 28 utilities with potential demand reductions of 200 MW or more here.

Steven Nadel is the executive director of ACEEE.

This blog was reprinted with permission. You can find the original post here.
 Energy Solutions for a Resilient Future: Q&A with Josh Notes of greeNEWit tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-02-08:6069565:BlogPost:214658 2017-02-08T21:36:54.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Home Energy publisher Tom White recently spoke with Josh Notes, co-founder and managing partner of greeNEWit. Among many other accomplishments, greeNEWit was recognized by the EPA with a 2016 ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year Award for its outstanding efforts to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products in homes.

greeNEWit, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2009, was honored for helping…

Home Energy publisher Tom White recently spoke with Josh Notes, co-founder and managing partner of greeNEWit. Among many other accomplishments, greeNEWit was recognized by the EPA with a 2016 ENERGY STAR Contractor of the Year Award for its outstanding efforts to increase the adoption of energy-efficient products in homes.

greeNEWit, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2009, was honored for helping improve home comfort, energy efficiency, and safety while lowering residential energy bills.

Q&A with Josh Notes

Tom White: Tell me about your motivations for forming greeNEWit in 2008. A lot has changed in both the housing industry and home performance.

Josh Notes: I was a young, hungry entrepreneur in a couple of different business fields. Once I went to business school at University of Maryland, I really started focusing in on real estate. Specifically real estate that was primed for adaptive reuse or improvements of neighborhoods.

I spent many days driving to the city of Baltimore and really learning about poverty and neglected populations that were only 15 minutes from where I grew up. That experience really helped shape our entry point for greeNEWit because we were acquiring houses that were projected to be worth $30 to $50,000. But when the market tumbled, it ended up being more like single-digit thousands of dollars. We had legal bills that were in excess of the equity in the building. It really was a life lesson in a bubble and it affected all parts of a community. Fast forwarding, I owned a bunch of real estate that was dilapidated in a city that would be hardest hit because it has some of the most at-risk members of our society. Out of that, myself and few business partners formulated the idea that there was money locked in buildings through energy waste. That's where the birth child of greeNEWit came from. As we drove through the cities of Baltimore and Columbia, there was value locked in people's attics and basements. Then we went out and got educated as building science experts and really allowed our vision to turn into a reality.

We didn't quite understand how complex the industry would be even for a small industry, but also how important.

TW: Where do you see the growth for your company?

JN: We see growth in two business models: residential and commercial. All the multifamily is included in that. We have taken a comprehensive approach to the energy solution that starts with the existing building shell. Once that is upgraded, stabilized, and maintained, we shift towards renewables and resiliency, which is really the topic that we're hoping to focus on. How sustainable is the community without resilience? Solar plus storage provides, from a power perspective, a resilient shield. Critical systems can be kept up and maintained in case of an emergency, which is when you would usually need it the most.

Resilient homes is where greeNEWit is heading but we're still getting there the old-fashioned way of one house, one building at a time. We're looking at the entire profile and now painting the picture of what that could look like, while getting a gauge from the customer on how far they are looking to go, from an efficient and sustainable home to a resilient one.

TW: What is the learning process moving from single family into multifamily and commercial?

JN: It's effectively created a second business. We operate all of our overhead under one roof. The time for cash conversion is different, the financing options are different. The way the buildings are collateralized and value is different. The root of it is the asset of real estate. We've tried to really become experts in not just the energy of commercial buildings but understanding what it's like to own them and how that could affect the changes from owner to manager to tenant.

TW:  Part of the Home Performance ENERGY STAR award was for your expertise in working with air-conditioning professionals to connect them to the program, and partnering with subcontractors to support their completing more than 100 home performance projects.

JN: We've found there are quality HVAC partners out there, but only a small percentage of HVAC contractors that were aware, engaged, or have attempted home performance but they are not focused on it. And from their own regard, not successful at it being worth their time, but they believed in it. We have tried to remove that burden of operational success, in exchange for marketing, and sharing profits downstream in an equitable way. So, effectively, every town, city, smallville, has an HVAC partner that's hopefully approaching that market with a sustainable mindset that they're reducing energy and they're helping people in the hottest times, the coldest times of the year to be more comfortable.

TW: How are you finding interest in the market on going from home performance to smart homes? How are you seeing people engage with home automation devices?

JN: I've seen that emerge more as a Fitbit for the home gadget-driven kind of techie. It hasn't aligned with the "My kid is cold and that's why I'm doing this," person who spends $5,000 or $10,000 on a retrofit, as opposed to $300 to monitor the temperature in that room, but doesn't do anything to fix it. We're kind of jumping past tech gadgets for the purpose of just knowing, and really getting more into the ones that people are willing to pay more for that provide an extra shield around the home.

Learn more:

www.greenewit.com

www.energystar.gov/campaign/improvements

This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 Top Safest Ways To Remove Crawl Space Mold tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-30:6069565:BlogPost:214208 2017-01-30T21:20:46.000Z Adam Swain http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AdamSwain
Living in a home with a crawl space can be an adventure some times. And those of us that do have a crawl space know all too well the costly problems that a crawl space can bring. One of the worst of all crawl space problems is mold growth. Crawl spaces can be a breeding ground for mold. The main reason for this is because of the fact that many crawl spaces are prone to moisture and water. Reducing or eliminating…

Living in a home with a crawl space can be an adventure some times. And those of us that do have a crawl space know all too well the costly problems that a crawl space can bring. One of the worst of all crawl space problems is mold growth. Crawl spaces can be a breeding ground for mold. The main reason for this is because of the fact that many crawl spaces are prone to moisture and water. Reducing or eliminating excessive moisture and water in the crawl space can go a long way in helping reduce your chances of mold growth. But if you are one of the unfortunate homeowners who already has mold growth, you might be asking yourself what the best possible method for removing it is.

Most crawl space mold remediation services are not only costly, but they tend to also be performed by using an array of potentially harmful chemicals. In fact some of these mold remediation techniques require homeowners to vacate their house during the process and can even leave long lasting odors in the upstairs living areas. But removing crawl space mold no longer has to be so costly or so dangerous. There is a relatively new process for removing crawl space mold that eliminates much of these health concerns for homeowners. This safer, greener process of removing crawl space mold is called the Carolina Protocol. The Carolina Protocol utilizes a non-toxic application that is applied to the mold growth. The application used is an 8% hydrogen peroxide and 92% water mixture.

How Does It Work
 The 8% hydrogen peroxide mixture that is applied to the areas of mold growth works by destroying the mold growth itself through a process known as oxidation. To understand oxidation one needs to simply think back on the last time they applied hydrogen peroxide to a cut or scrape. If you remember doing this then you should remember seeing some type of bubbling action take place after applying hydrogen peroxide to the cut. This bubbling action is the bacteria in the cut being destroyed by the hydrogen peroxide or in other words being destroyed by oxidation. Although the hydrogen peroxide used on the cut is of a much less strength, the same process that destroys the bacteria in the cut is the same process that destroys the mold growth. These process cuts down on not only cost, but also reduces the harmful impacts that other methods use. Although there are usually a few additional steps that include HEPA Vaccums and cleaning, the overall time, cost, and health concerns associated with crawl space mold removal are greatly reduced.

Adam Swain
 SwainCo. Crawl Space and Basement Repair
 Five Former Solar Decathletes Who Became Entrepreneurs tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-30:6069565:BlogPost:214194 2017-01-30T17:41:27.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine

[This blog was reprinted with permission from the Solar Decathlon Blog.]

It's no surprise that many of the top-notch students who have participated in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon go on to have successful careers in architecture and engineering. Some become…

[This blog was reprinted with permission from the Solar Decathlon Blog.]

It's no surprise that many of the top-notch students who have participated in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon go on to have successful careers in architecture and engineering. Some become collegiate professors, software engineers, analysts, energy consultants, and much more. We even have a newly elected official among our ranks—Chris Kennedy of the University of Colorado Boulder 2002's first-place team—who won Colorado's 23rd District State House race last month.

Given that more than 30,000 students have participated in the Solar Decathlon around the globe, it would be impossible to highlight all of the incredible things former decathletes have gone on to do in their careers. Still, it would be a shame not to mention several of the innovative entrepreneurs that have grown out of the competition. That's why we chose a handful of individuals who are founders, co-founders, or CEOs of their own companies to feature in this blog post.

Addison Godine, Founder and CEO of livelight

Once a key team member of the Middlebury College 2011 Solar Decathlon team, Addison went on to become the founder and CEO of livelight in Boston, Massachusetts. This company is working to develop a construction system that combines efficient prefabricated housing modules with a site-built "exoskeleton" to create a new model for urban housing that working people can afford.

Allison Kopf, Founder and CEO of Agrilyst

The project manager for Team California's Solar Decathlon 2009 entry is the founder and CEO of Agrilyst, a farm management and analytics platform for indoor farms. The company's SaaS platform tracks and analyzes all farm data in one place, enabling growers to optimize plant performance and reduce operating expenses. Agrilyst won the highly coveted Disrupt Cup at TechCrunch Disrupt SF in 2015 and was named one of FastCompany's Most Innovative Companies in 2016. Allison was recently named the Association for Vertical Farming's 2016 Changemaker of the Year.

Cole Hershkowitz, Founder and CEO at Chai Energy

Before launching Chai Energy, Cole led California Institute of Technology's Solar Decathlon 2013 team to a second-place finish in the Engineering Contest. Caltech's house featured a first-of-its-kind, gestural home control system equipped with Machine Vision and 3D maps to allow homeowners to turn off appliances with a simple point of the finger. His latest venture gives homeowners the ability to reduce their utility bill by leveraging smart meter data, analytics, and a great user experience.

David G. Schieren, CEO SunPower by EmPower

As the CEO of EmPower, David leads a company that installs high-performance solar energy and battery systems for homeowners and businesses. David and EmPower co-founder Gregory Sachs engineered, installed, and operated a solar hydrogen fuel cell and battery power plant for the New York Institute of Technology's Solar Decathlon 2005 team. Since then, their company has gone on to install more than 1,500 solar PV systems for New Yorkers. EmPower also hosts an annual Solar Student Competition for local high school students. To date, this student competition has awarded more than $8,000 in scholarships.

Derek Ouyang, Lecturer at Stanford University and the Nueva Upper School, Founder at Cloud Arch Studio

Derek was part of Stanford University's effort to compete in Solar Decathlon 2013 (check out his impressive TEDx talk here). After earning a dual bachelor's in civil engineering and architectural design and a master's in structural engineering, Derek began working on sustainable solutions for the built environment through teaching and practice. He teaches a project-based learning course at the core of a new Sustainable Urban Systems graduate program at Stanford, as well as an Introduction to Architecture class at a local high school. Derek also started his own design company, which engages a global network of designers and engineers in community-focused projects such as sustainable resources, affordable housing, and creative placemaking.

These past decathletes turned entrepreneurs—and their peers—are worth knowing about, connecting with, and being inspired by. You can browse more than 500 professional profiles associated with the competition by searching LinkedIn for Solar Decathlon. Also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to continue hearing about the great things solar decathletes are sure to accomplish in the future.

- Alexis Powers

Alexis Powers is a senior web project manager and social media strategist with Confluence Communications.

 Fireplaces: The Different Types and Uses tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-30:6069565:BlogPost:213997 2017-01-30T06:35:12.000Z Alfie Davis http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/AlfieDavis
The word "fireplace" conjures up images of an extension of the living room wall; one which houses a space where a stack of wooden logs slowly burn and crackle while giving out a steady stream of heat which is greedily soaked in by the inhabitants of that room. Quite naturally, the fireplace is a characteristic of homes which exist in colder climates, such as many parts of Canada. So naturally, images of a wood-burning fireplace is guaranteed to transport one back to childhood…

The word "fireplace" conjures up images of an extension of the living room wall; one which houses a space where a stack of wooden logs slowly burn and crackle while giving out a steady stream of heat which is greedily soaked in by the inhabitants of that room. Quite naturally, the fireplace is a characteristic of homes which exist in colder climates, such as many parts of Canada. So naturally, images of a wood-burning fireplace is guaranteed to transport one back to childhood when one feasted on British classics authored by the likes of Dickens, Wells, Austen and Wodehouse, among others. There is, however, more than just the wood-burning variety of fireplaces. You have, for instance, the gas burning fireplace, ethanol fireplace and electric fireplace. These are the basic broad divisions, and each one of them has multiple sub-divisions. Information courtesy: The Original Flame. All of this is written down below in complete detail:

Wood Burning Fireplace: As mentioned in the introduction, the wood burning fireplace is what comes first and foremost to mind while picturing a fire-place. However, 'wood burning fireplace' is not a homogenous category. It boasts of these sub-types:

The Traditional Open Hearth: These have traditionally been made from brick and mortar (sometimes stone or marble). Although this is possibly the most popular one in the history of fireplaces, it is fairly expensive and difficult to build. A really deep open-hearth fireplace is really time-taking; especially the opening and the chimney. This is also not the best kind of fireplace that there could be when you want a really warm living room.

Enclosed Fireplaces: This is the diametric opposite of the open-hearth fireplace, as is very evident from the name itself. The most prominent feature of this fireplace is a huge see-through glass panel which would enable you to enjoy the flames of the fire as it simmered and crackled. In this design, the heat is insulated to a large extent so that it stays in the room rather than escaping up the chimney.

Fireplace Inserts: Here you add more wood to the fireplace through 'inserts' which are fitted into the structure of the fireplace.

 Gas Burning Fireplaces: Fireplaces which run on gas generate much more heat in comparison to the ones which run on wood. This, in fact, has been the most prevalent logic peddled by gas fireplace suppliers while selling customers their ware. And owing to the fact that they're not as construction-intensive as wood-burning fireplaces are, they are much less expensive. The sub-types for this variety are as follows:

Built-in Fireplaces with a Direct Vent: Here, you can actually see the leaping of large yellow flames which gives out the feel of a wood fireplace. The main advantage of this kind of fireplace is that with it, you can make do without getting a chimney constructed. You can even stick in a pipe and use it as a vent for the smoke generated. And this is a kind of chimney that can be installed in any room.

Fireplaces without Vent: These are, as the name suggests, have no vents. These are built-in fireplaces indoors which have no need for any chimney. These are the easiest to install; even easier than the ones with the direct vents.

Ethanol Fireplaces: Contemporary in design and remarkably easy to install, ethanol fireplaces are all the rage in today's world. And the best part about them is that you can always find a design which would be perfectly compatible with every kind of interior decoration and colour scheme. They are perfect if you seek clean burning that's also completely devoid of any odour. It is also the most eco-friendly of all fireplaces. Without further delay, we're going to jump straight into the collection of sub-types:

Wall Mounted Fireplace: This is a kind of portable fireplace which can be put up anywhere you will for it to be displayed. And because of this 'hanging' feature, it can be of excellent use as a substitute for fine painting or any other kinds of art which are frequently used as wall hangings. When hung the correct way, it can be a substitute for a television when it comes to a centrepiece of a room.

Fireplace Conversion: This is where you make use of an existing fireplace and convert it into an ethanol-burning one. All you have to do is slide in an ethanol insert which can sport either a contemporary or a traditional look.

Tabletop Fireplaces: Tabletop fireplaces sport a variety of sizes, so that they can be used in a large variety of settings. These are easily portable, and they are much like the wall-mounted fireplaces with the only difference being that they have to be put down or placed upon a plain surface.

Electrical Fireplace: These are the most cost-effective options out of the ones listed on here. Here you could easily choose to turn the heating switch on or off while still maintaining a fireplace-like ambience. Below are the two different kinds of electric fireplaces:

The Mantel Variety of Electric Fireplace: These have the facade of a wooden fireplace, the old, yesteryears, nostalgia-invoking kind. But in stark contrast to an actual open-hearth fireplace, this requires very little venting or chimney. Thus with this you get the best of both worlds.

Fireplace TV Stands and Centres of Entertainment: A few companies are known to make furniture which come combined with a built-in fireplace.

And with that, we end our list of the various types of fireplaces in the market till date.
 CPV and PV combinated module tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-27:6069565:BlogPost:214082 2017-01-27T01:38:39.000Z EDDIE CHUNG http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/EDDIECHUNG

 CPV module that insert PV cell in dead space out of focal point may be a perfect area to enhance module overall efficiency over 40% developed by Hanul Solar Energy in Seoul.

Applicable to a monsoon environmental condition that would generate either concentrated sun or…

 CPV module that insert PV cell in dead space out of focal point may be a perfect area to enhance module overall efficiency over 40% developed by Hanul Solar Energy in Seoul.

Applicable to a monsoon environmental condition that would generate either concentrated sun or not.
 Energy Star Contractor of the Year Award Q&A: AZ Energy Efficient Home tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-20:6069565:BlogPost:214149 2017-01-20T21:25:34.000Z Home Energy Magazine http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/HomeEnergyMagazine
 Each year, EPA honors a select group of organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Contractor of the Year is awarded to Home Performance with Energy Star participating contractors who exhibit outstanding professionalism, build strong customer relationships, and apply building science solutions to improve homes.

We were…

Each year, EPA honors a select group of organizations that have made outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

Contractor of the Year is awarded to Home Performance with Energy Star participating contractors who exhibit outstanding professionalism, build strong customer relationships, and apply building science solutions to improve homes.

We were able to speak to one of the winners of this award from AZ Energy Efficient Home whose company boasts the following accomplishments:

Developed partnerships with HVAC and solar companies to widen the service offerings available to customers while maintaining focus on the fundamental objective to make homes more efficient.

Were on the forefront of technological advances, including adapting the Home Performance XML data standard (HPXML) and participating in multiple user acceptance testing initiatives for Arizona Public Service including; EnergySavvy software, third-party energy audit modeling, building characterization, and a static pressure study.

Achieved exceptional customer satisfaction and quality of work. They report zero failures within the program.

Average approximately 28 million British thermal units for Home Performance with ENERGY STAR.

Business Profile

Years in business: 7
Nonprofit or for-profit? For profit
Average number of home energy audits completed per year: 270
Average number of home performance jobs completed per year: 90
Average home performance job size: $9,000
Required staff certifications: BPI Building Analyst, Healthy Home Evaluator, Manufactured Housing & LEED

Q&A

We spoke with AZ Energy Efficient Home's president Jonathan Waterworth, who started the company in 2009 after learning about the Building Performance Institute (BPI) while achieving his LEED accreditation. AZ Energy Efficient Home was one of the first companies in Arizona to provide home performance services, and is now the longest participating company in the state.

Macie Melendez (MM): Is this the company's first industry award?

Jonathan Waterworth (JW): Yes, the 2016 Energy Star Contractor of the Year Award is our first award and it is very special to us for the fact that it's validation for all the great work we have provided our customers and the hard work our employees performed for the past six years.

MM: What do you think makes your company stand out?

JW: I feel what makes us stand out is our customer service and delivery of performance. We ask our employees to treat our customer's home like it is their own and to leave it cleaner than we found it. Our customers are always complimentary of our employees and that is an indication of success.

MM: What advice do you have for other companies in our industry?

JW: Give your personnel the ability to achieve their best and put the customer first.

MM: What one thing do you think is crucial to the home performance industry's success?

JW: We have to have the participation from sponsors with strict quality control and high expectations so that we as contractors can continue to push the envelope while maintaining a high standard of performance.

MM: What does success look like for your company in 10 years?

JW: Success for us will be providing the continued level of customer satisfaction and performance while providing more services for our customers as the knowledge and technology in our industry expands.

- Macie Melendez

Macie Melendez is Home Energy's managing editor.

This blog originally appeared on www.homeenergy.org.
 Rock Wool Insulation for Floor of High Performance Tiny House tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-12:6069565:BlogPost:213470 2017-01-12T10:30:00.000Z Chris Laumer-Giddens http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/ChrisLaumerGiddens

VIDEO: Foundation and Floor Framing for High Performance Tiny House, Florida

In August of 2016, we posted a video describing the design and construction of the foundation and floor framing of our High Performance Tiny…

VIDEO: Foundation and Floor Framing for High Performance Tiny House, Florida

In August of 2016, we posted a video describing the design and construction of the foundation and floor framing of our High Performance Tiny House in Florida. Since then, we have made a lot of progress. We've also prioritized the design and construction of an off-grid, "zombie proof" homestead, and its permaculture farm, in the mountains of North Carolina, which kept us from sharing our experiences and shedding our knowledge on the blog! Alas, here is an update. Welcome to today's post!

WHERE WE LEFT OFF AT THE TINY HOUSE...

Whether you're seeing the video for the first time, or not, you heard me talk about insulating both the cavities and continuously on the outside of the sheathing. What I hope you picked up on, in the video, is that to achieve that continuity with the sheathing, we built the floor in sections, and upside down.

If we had set the floor joists on the masonry foundation wall, first, the sheathing would have been interrupted by the double sill plates on top of the masonry. This detail would have been much more complicated to deal with, but still doable.

By keeping the sheathing continuous, on the outside of the structure, we maintain continuity of our control layers, which gives us a "perfect" enclosure. And, by having continuous insulation, that has the appropriate hygrothermic (drying potential) and thermal properties, on the outside of the sheathing, we've protected the structure from exposure to the elements. This helps prevent LOTS of things that cause building failure (e.g. Rot, Mold, Freeze, Thaw, etc.), not to mention keeps us comfortable inside the house (This is a very good thing).

Image 1: Perfect Building Enclosure - Continuity is an absolute necessity to maintain a perfect enclosure.

ROCK WOOL INSULATION WORKS FOR FRAMED FLOOR, WALL AND ROOF/CEILING.

I've mentioned before why I like building with rocks. While it's not practical to use rocks for everything in the structure of the home, rocks could be the best ways to insulate. From the drying potential, as illustrated in the video below, and described in this blog post from July 2016, to the R-Value that increases as the temperature drops, to the fact that rocks don't burn, there are fewer and fewer reasons to NOT insulate with rocks.

VIDEO: ROXUL Comfortboard Drying Potential

After finishing the floor framing, we were ready for insulation. We started by insulating the cavities with 6" Batts (R-26.4 max at colder temperatures), and then installed the continuous 2" rigid (R-8.8 max at colder temperatures) rock wool insulation on the outside of the sheathing. As I mention in the "perfect enclosure" blog post, the walls and the roof were insulated the exact same way. Four (4") to six (6") inches of cavity insulation, with two (2) inches of continuous rigid insulation on the outside.

In a later post, I will explain the many reasons why using ONLY continuous exterior rigid insulation, with absolutely NO batt insulation in the cavities, is absolutely the most effective and simple way to insulate a building. HANDS DOWN. For now, we'll talk about using rock wool insulation batts in the cavities, too.

Here are pics from the installing the rock wool insulation batts and rigid board, before, during and after, at the High Performance Tiny House (Florida).

Image 2: 6" (TH) x 16" (W) x 48" (L) batts, with R-Value of 26.4 (at colder temperatures) were used in the floor and roof/ceiling cavities. We installed 4" batts, with R-Value of 17.6 (at colder temperatures), in the wall cavities.

Image 3: Rock wool insulation batts are unfaced, and maintain rigidity well when not handled more than necessary.

Image 4: Making sure there are absolutely no gaps or compression when installing insulation batts must be done, without exception, to achieve the maximum thermal resistance potential, and to maintain durability of the assembly. Gaps between the insulation and framing, or between individual batts, can lead to trapping or passage of unwanted moisture, as well as decreased thermal performance. Where the batt meets the sheathing is one of the most challenging, because you can't see it. But, that doesn't mean it can't be done right. Follow instructions!

Image 5: Carefully setting each batt in each cavity.

Image 6: Installing the batts vertically against the rim joist, will maintain continuity of the thermal layer with the exterior wall that will be built directly above. Continuity is KING! Trimming the insulation is done easily with an insulation knife, or in this case, a hacksaw.

Image 7: Leaving 1/4" to 3/8" of insulation above the top of the joist will ensure that the insulation will remain in contact with the subfloor sheathing, without reducing R-Value through compression.

Image 8: Looking down at the cantilevered corner of the framed floor. The vertical insulation continues around the perimeter of the structure.

Image 9: The batts are friction fit in to each cavity, and make a nice "blanket" of woven rocks.

Image 10: Because the joists are 2x10, there will be a gap between the top of the insulation and the bottom of the sub-floor. This works because continuous air, vapor and thermal control layers (sheathing and insulation) are outside of the bottom of the joists, instead of on top. This gap was not allowed in earlier building codes, but is now acceptable because it's understood to perform very well. This gap is within the thermal envelope, and part of the conditioned space.

Image 11: Continuous two-inch (2") rigid rock wool insulation on the outside of the continuous sheathing that's attached to the bottom of the floor joists, which is an all-in-one air, vapor and water control layer (ZIP System Sheathing). The insulation completes the assembly's critical control layers, by controlling heat (thermal). On the other side (top) of the continuous sheathing is where the rock wool insulation batts are installed (see Images 2 - 10).

For more on designing and building high performance homes, whether they're tiny or "zombie proof", be sure to read more of this blog, and follow along.

Thank you,

Chris Laumer-Giddens
 Multifamily houses retrofit- steam heating system boost tag:homeenergypros.lbl.gov,2017-01-12:6069565:BlogPost:204282 2017-01-12T06:30:00.000Z Igor Zhadanovsky http://homeenergypros.lbl.gov/profile/IgorZhadanovsky

Problem scale. Significant, untapped opportunities exist to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's multifamily housing stock, which accounts annually for more than 100 million tons of carbon emissions and approximately $22 billion in energy expenditures [1]. Most multifamily rental properties were constructed before modern building energy codes were adopted, and existing utility incentive and rebate programs often overlook the…

Problem scale. Significant, untapped opportunities exist to improve the energy efficiency of the nation's multifamily housing stock, which accounts annually for more than 100 million tons of carbon emissions and approximately $22 billion in energy expenditures [1]. Most multifamily rental properties were constructed before modern building energy codes were adopted, and existing utility incentive and rebate programs often overlook the multifamily sector in deploying energy efficiency incentives and rebates. These factors combine to produce an aging building stock that has received comparatively low investment from utilities to conduct energy efficiency improvements. Harnessing opportunities to improve energy efficiency in the multifamily housing sector can provide significant benefits to multifamily residents, property owners, and local communities.

Steam heating is used heavily in multifamily houses - of the 16.7 million multifamily housing units nationwide—defined as five or more units—2.5 million are steam heated [2].

A 2009 NYSERDA survey of 63 arbitrarily-selected existing multifamily buildings found 46 (73%) to be heated with steam boilers, and six additional buildings (9.5%) heated with purchased steam, for a total of 82.5% of the buildings heated with steam. Of these 52 steam-heated buildings, 32 have 2-pipe distribution (62% of steam-heated buildings) and 10 have 1-pipe distribution (19% of steam-heated buildings). Most of these buildings are 20 years older or more, but the tradition of steam heat is so strong, that even relatively new buildings, as recent as five years old, have been found to be designed and built with steam boilers [3]. 2013 report on multifamily houses in Chicago region indicate portion of steam heat ~50% [4].

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships 2014 report on multifamily properties indicated that "… in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region, the small multifamily housing sector accounts for approximately 2.1 million occupied housing units out of a total of 26 million total housing units". 69% and 39% of these buildings were built before 1980 and 1960 correspondingly, so similar statistic of ~50% or higher can be expected for steam heating throughout Northeast and Mid-Atlantic of US [5].

Steam heating retrofits – tentative solutions

Genuine drawback of steam heating is uneven heat distribution and overheating –it's a reason why steam heated buildings typically pictured with open windows. Attempts to balance steam distribution system using air vents [6, 7] and Temperature Regulating Valve (TRV) [8] were not successful. Recently introduced "smart' radiator cover address room overheating rather than the whole heat distribution problem [9], another disadvantage is switching from radiation to convection heating by air which is significant loss in efficiency and comfort.

Building envelope method is supported heavily by government incentives, but return of investment can exceed 100 years [10]. Furthermore, it's not unusual that homes are damaged as a result of improperly installed insulation and windows - doing the right thing the wrong way may be worse than doing nothing at all [11].

Today steam heating conversion into hot water heating considered the best practice. The lessons learned from successful steam to HWH retrofit project were summarized as follows: "Over the years, many of us in the New York City multifamily energy efficiency world have talked about how cool it would be to convert steam-heated buildings to hydronic heating. The problem is not one of will but one of money. Changing the boiler is not the big deal—it's the heating distribution system that is the challenge. … Plenty of these conversions have been done in the last 20 years in buildings that were gut rehabs. These jobs did not always get the best boilers, or insulation in the walls, but they did get a more efficient heating distribution. The real challenge was to convert a building with steam heat, with tenants in place [12]."

Short history of vacuum heating

Back in the 1900s the conversion of single-pipe steam heating into vacuum heating on average saved 35% on fuel bills [13]. LEED Gold Empire State Building is still heated by original vacuum heating system of 1931, like many others less noticeable. How many of modern heating systems will be around in 2100? 2150?

The main idea of vacuum heating is pulling water vapor from boiler into radiators by vacuum at 5-10 psi pressure difference instead of pushing air via air vents on radiators by steam at 1-2psi. In old vacuum systems for this purpose each radiator was connected to vacuum pump in a basement. In order to prevent hot vapor entering into vacuum pump, special valves were used on radiators in single-pipe systems, and steam traps on condensate return line from each radiator in two-pipe system. Those fault prone specialty valves/steam traps became Achilles' heel of vacuum heating. Failure of a single one out of a hundreds causes vacuum pump overloading and deteriorate the system performance.

Hot water circulators entering into the market in 1920th reduced piping size and installation cost of hydronic systems. Vacuum heating lost the market to hydronic mostly because of maintanence cost, i.e. steam traps problems, but remains a system of choice for high-rise buildings where hydronic require mechanical floors every 15-20 floors for pumping stations.

NextGen vacuum heating

Conversion from steam heating into new vacuum heating system can provide the level of improvements similar to old results; but without steam traps it is simpler, easier, cheaper and require much less maintenance . Technology is not as trendy as solar or heat pump, but it is more practical. The approach is analogous to the fine tuning of the motor in a car instead of trashing it and buying Hybrid or Tesla.

In the winter of 2013-14, a pilot retrofit of a single-pipe steam heating system confirmed fuel gas savings for different systems used to heat the same apartment –Table 1. Energy efficiency of the original single pipe steam system (~100 years old boiler, piping and radiators) was compared to the same boiler connected to new flat panel radiators by copper/plastic lines; the same comparison was carried later on new regular steam boiler. Up to 50% in savings was demonstrated by the retrofit into a vacuum heating system and in a winter of 2014 -15 results were confirmed [14-18].

Although potential savings are quite attractive, replacing radiators and plumbing still looks risky for owners of steam heating buildings. Therefore, a study was carried out on "vacuum boost" of a single-pipe steam heating system using the existing boiler and with minimal retrofit cost and changes to the existing piping/radiators. This may allow your "old clunker" to surprise you for a long time ahead with energy efficiency and the forgotten comfort of radiant heating. The study was carried on the same boiler/single-pipe steam heating system/apartment of 2013-14 setup on second floor of two-family house. The boiler starts in a vacuum and continues to fill the system with steam until the pressuretrol cut-in setting is achieved (2 psig). It oscillates further at a positive pressure between pressuretrol cut-in and cut-out settings. When the thermostat switches the boiler off, the vacuum pump maintains a vacuum in the system for another 1.5 hours to pull more heat from the boiler. In Figure 1, the annual HDD and heating cost data are presented for both floors, starting from the winter of 2012-13. Because no changes were made to the original single-pipe heating system on first floor, it is used as a base line to compare results. The heating cost for the first floor is used as a base level to estimate the effects of the heating system retrofit on the second floor. The heating cost data, presented in Table 2, are used to estimate potential savings from "vacuum boost" of steam heating. When both apartments were heated by steam, the heating cost ratio was 1:1.19. When system was retrofitted into a two-pipe vacuum heating system, the ratio dropped to 1:0.64, which correspond to an energy efficiency increase of 46.4% ((1.19-0.64)/1.19). These results were achieved with a new boiler/radiators/piping. During the 2015-16 winter, the retrofitting of a single-pipe steam system on the second floor apartment into a steam system with a "vacuum boost dropped the ratio to 1:0.81, which corresponds to an energy efficiency increase of 32.0% ((1.19-0.0.81)/1.19). Assuming that the effect of upgrading the boiler is 16% (please, see Table 1), the effect of the

"vacuum boost" is in the range of another 16%. Please note that the calculated ratios were not affected by changing fuel gas prices.

Results discussion

 Water lost from the new vacuum system was negligible – 1-2 gallons in winters of 2013-14 and 2014-15 (water in vapor form was evacuated by vacuum pump along with air). It turned out that water lost from the "vacuum boost" steam heating system was even less, - the same water level was kept in a boiler throughout the 2015-16 winter. pH = 8 was found in routine water analysis. The less time the vacuum pump is on, the less water loss there is. Ideally, no water will be lost from a leak tight system.

Radiators replacement. SIRA modern cast aluminum flat panel radiators were tested as a space saving, economical alternative to old cast iron ones. Pictures and IR images (40 minutes after the boiler cold started in the morning) of an old cast iron and new cast aluminum radiator are shown in Figure 2, - top and bottom, correspondingly. Cast aluminum radiators are modular (five sections were added to a standard size of twelve sections in a picture), and warranted for up to 20. The difference in IR images is quite transparent in favor of SIRA radiators

Retrofit complexity. Notorious vacuum system problem of steam traps malfunctions and painstaking maintenance can be eliminated by "vacuum boost" concept. Retrofit of an existing vacuum system would be the easiest with minor changes to piping and controls. Applying a "vacuum boost" for a two-pipe system would still require adding a vacuum pump and some changes to plumbing. Expected saving are between 32 and 46, more savings might be achieved in bigger project where effect of uneven heat distribution is more significant.

References:

Andrea Krukowski, Andrew C. Burr "Energy Transparency in the Multifamily Housing Sector Assessing Energy Benchmarking and Disclosure Policies" Institute for Market Transformation December, 2012

MULTIFAMILY PERFORMANCE PROGRAM Case Study – Existing Buildings Steam Boiler System Replacements

Ian Shapiro "Water & Energy Use in Steam-Heated Buildings", ASHRAE magazine 2010,

Jayne Choi, Peter Ludwig, and Larry Brand "Steam System Balancing and Tuning for Multifamily Residential Buildings in Chicagoland" Partnership for Advanced Residential Retrofit, August 2012

Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships "Increasing Energy Efficiency in Small Multifamily Properties in the Northeast: Recommendations for Policy Action" April 2014

Energy savings in one-pipe steam heating systems fitted with high-capacity air vents. Final report NYSERDA--94-15 ON: DE95001889

Steam System Balancing and Tuning for Multifamily Residential Buildings, PARR 2011-12

M. Bobker, E.R. Kinsler "Balancing apartment building heating with thermostatic radiator valves", Piping/heating/air conditioning seminar

NATIONAL CLEAN ENERGY BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION, US DOE

Martin Holladay "The High Cost of Deep-Energy Retrofits"

Michael Anschel "The Folly of Deep Energy Retrofits: just chasing rainbows?"

Dan Rieber "179 Henry Street A Case Study in Converting from Two-Pipe Steam to Hydronic Heating"

Dan Holohan "The lost art of Steam Heating"

Technical Assistance Study. Vacuum Steam Heating NGRID report, 2014

Igor Zhadanovsky "Pilot retrofit of steam heating system into Vacuum Heating System (VHS)" Presentation for ASHRAE conference, Seattle 2014

Igor Zhadanovsky "Vacuum Steam Heating: Past, present ... future?" IDEA magazine 4Q2014

Dan Holohan "A new look at vacuum heating", P&M magazine 2015

Igor Zhadanovsky "Vacuum heating integration with District heating system" Presentation for IDEA conference, Boston 2015

SIRA DIE-CAST ALUMINIUM RADIATORS