Posts Tagged ‘home’
September 28, 2012
A recent study this summer from UC Berkeley and UCLA looked at homes that were certified as green from a few different organizations. Although the certification standards varied, the homes needed to have details such as well-insulated ceilings and walls and energy-efficient lighting. These are just some of the basics of making a home “green”, as well as efficient appliances, proper HVAC equipment and good indoor air quality. These things unfortunately don’t always happen in new homes, even those with the green label. However, they can and should happen in every home, and that’s why we do what we do.
This study comes from a state with a very nice incentive system in place for energy efficiency retrofits. Energy upgrade California is a good place to start if you are a resident of CA. For residents of other states, you can find some incentive programs from DSIRE. The full study can be found here.
You can also contact one of our locations to learn more about how you can make your home safer, energy efficient, more valuable, and of course, green!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:California, DSIRE, energy efficient lighting, environment, green, home, HVAC, money, resale, UC Berkeley, UCLA, value
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air-Sealing, Consumer Protection, Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Energy Loss, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners | Leave a Comment »
September 24, 2012
Lic. creative commons. photo by Mario A. Leitón
At GHA, we use the best material to get the job done right. While there are many types of insulation out there, one that many locations use quite frequently is cellulose. One of the great things about this stuff is that it is a recycled product. Ever wonder what happens to all those newspapers that are carted off in a recycling bin instead of heading to the trash? Cardboard is one product, but insulation is the one near to our heart.
Fortunately cellulose manufacturers have not been greatly affected by the recent decline in newspaper circulation as there are plenty of other materials available. According to the American Forest and Paper Association, there’s over 1 million pounds of paper waste generated every ten minutes in the U.S. That means there’s lots of material to use in making cellulose. In fact, one manufacturer was using romance novels for a while! Sounds like a good way to insulate and it really gives a new meaning to the term “trashy novels”.
Cellulose is just one of many options for insulating your home. This is why it’s important to have an expert assess your home and decide what is best not only in action, but also for materials. When cellulose insulation is a good match, we pick the cleanest and safest available to install. Now that’s a love story with a happy ending!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:american, cellulose, energy, home, love, newspaper, recycle, romance
Posted in Consumer Protection, Efficiency, Energy Audits, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners, Insulation, News | Leave a Comment »
July 31, 2012
It has been said that if engineers, instead of architects, designed efficient buildings, there would be no windows. Refrigerators are boxes just like our homes, and for good reasons most of them have no windows. You can get a commercial refrigerator with a glass door, but the sacrifice is efficiency to get that view inside. This one becomes transparent as you approach it, which is pretty neat and might save energy if it is well insulated and you don’t have to open the door as much.
Seems like a good idea to me. What if we were the milk cartons and our home the fridge? This time of year keeping cool can mean keeping the door closed on our homes because your air conditioner works double time when the door is left open. It also works harder when there’s a lack of insulation and lots of air leakage in your home. Hey, if you are the produce and don’t wish to perish, consider keeping cool by improving your home. We can help!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:cool, efficiency, energy, home, insulation, milk cartons, refrigertor
Posted in Air-Sealing, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Home, Insulation, Technology | 2 Comments »
July 16, 2012
Despite what some might think, bigger isn’t always better. We talk about the right size furnace or air conditioner for our homes, it makes sense that a dehumidifier should be sized right too.
First of all, I suggest you take care of everything you can to reduce moisture in the first place. (Home as microbiology experiment? Moisture, keep it reasonable and stay safe) This is a lot like what I suggest in terms of heating and cooling in a home. Air seal and insulate first to make the home more efficient, then change the HVAC system. The same principle applies to choosing a dehumidifier: reduce the need first, and this will allow for a smaller unit. It might be smaller, but it will use less energy.
Since basements and other spaces sometimes need some dehumidification, consider the following chart:
ENERGY STAR® qualified models are better since they use less energy, and you can check the EnergyGuide sticker to see what yearly energy consumption a model has.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:dehumidifiers, energy, energy star appliances, home, homeowner
Posted in Air-Sealing, DIY, Efficiency, Energy Loss, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners, Insulation, Uncategorized, Utility Bills | Leave a Comment »
June 29, 2012
There are many sources of moisture in the home. Cooking, showering, houseplants, and people are some expected sources. Crawlspaces and basements can add to the humidity as well. And no matter where it comes from, too much humidity can promote the growth of unwanted microbes, mold, mildew and bacteria. It should be a healthy home, not a lab experiment.
Consider some steps to avoid high humidity in the home:
- Gutters and good grading can help divert water away from the foundation.
- Cover dirt floors in crawl spaces and basements with heavy duty plastic, it reduces odors and moisture
- Ensure that clothes dryers are properly vented to the outdoors.
- Use ventilation fans to remove moisture generated by showering, bathing, and cooking.
- Reduce the number of plants in humid areas.
- If you burn wood, don’t store it in the basement.
- Do not open basement windows and doors in the summer to dry out the basement. This can make the problem worse by allowing moist outdoor air into your cool basement, causing increased condensation. Crawlspaces (and basements) may not need venting, sometimes it makes it worse. I’ve talked about this here
Most of the time we know we have too much moisture only after it’s too late. Wet stains on walls and ceilings, rotten wood, condensation on the windows, and musty smells let us know something is wrong. Clearly indoor air quality suffers, so it’s best to keep your eye out for trouble. Suffer from allergies? You might be creating an ideal situation for the growth of the bacteria and mold that cause them. Our homes are made of mold food: wood, sheetrock, paper. It should be a palace not a Petri dish!
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:Basements, consumer, health and safety, home, household, humidity, indoor air quality, indoor air quality issues, odors
Posted in Consumer Protection, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners | 1 Comment »
May 24, 2012
By U.S. Air Force photo by Edward Aspera Jr. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
NYT
reported last month that although there are some early adopters of monitors of electric use in our homes, it is predicted that more than half will have them in the next ten years. Notable in the Times article is a quote from Dan Yates, CEO of Opower: “Simply making energy usage visible can have an impact”. I can believe that; after all, “
knowledge is power”, right?
Blending physics, and metaphor, with this age old adage (I can’t resist throwing in some physics), power implies transformation. It is a function of using energy to do work. My point is that energy monitors aren’t worth squat unless we change our behavior based on what they tell us. In fact, since you plug them in, they use electricity, they don’t save it.
Local utilities are offering energy data with things like the green button which we’ve written about in the past. Changing light bulbs to CFLs or LEDs can make a big impact with electric loads. When you use electricity—for A/C or to heat water for example—more efficient systems can make a difference; and so can improving the home in other ways. The gains in insulating and air sealing, proper shading, and good windows can really make an impact on your energy usage as well as your comfort.
I wonder if the adage “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing” is relevant? Don’t get me wrong, it’s good to keep an eye on your electrical usage, but don’t get caught watching and not acting. Or maybe, “a fool and his money will soon part” fits too.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:air-sealing, electricity, energy, environment, home, LEDs, lighting, NYTimes, Opower, physics, science, utilities
Posted in Air-Sealing, Consumer Protection, Efficiency, Electricity Use, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Monitors/Meters, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Insulation, LED Lighting, Lighting and Appliances, News, Utility Bills, Windows and Doors | 1 Comment »
May 21, 2012
Recently Fox News had an interesting piece on energy audits. It asks an excellent question; are they worth the cost? As homeowners we can identify some issues in our homes, but it often takes and expert to pull it all together, and catch some of the bigger issues affecting our utility bills.
The article points out that not all auditors are created equal. It mentions that blower door tests, Infrared imaging, as well as duct testing, are important for and auditor to perform. And we agree. In fact, we spend numerous hours training individuals to use the equipment, as well as getting them certified with the Building Performance Institute (BPI). BPI’s focus is not on just energy efficiency, but also health and safety, and that in my mind is more important that just saving money.
It is important that our advisors have ongoing training and support, because homes—and the building science behind them—are complicated. If I relate this to the medical profession, would you want an intern performing surgery while figuring it out on their own? Or, would you rather have an experienced doctor teaching the intern?
One thing not pointed out in the article is that saving energy is only part of it. Don’t forget comfort, the reason we heat and cool our homes in the first place. Acting on the recommendations in an energy audit can make our homes a more comfortable place.
Is it worth the cost? If you take action, absolutely! An audit isn’t worth anything if you don’t fix the problems, which is why it is so important to identify them—and provide cost-conscious improvements—making your home more energy efficient, healthy and comfortable. You can learn more in our learning center.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:BPI, comfort, energy, energy assessments, energy audits, Fox News, health, home, home improvement, utility bills
Posted in Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Energy Loss, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Health / Safety / Indoor Air, Home, Homeowners, News, Utility Bills | 2 Comments »
May 14, 2012
A few weeks back I touched on some of the hidden costs in our home (
http://blog.greenhomesamerica.com/2012/04/12/fixes-for-hidden-costs-reveal-hidden-benefits/
). There is a tie between our houses and our cars and energy use.
Fixing up your home could even help you drive for free. The Florida solar energy center created this great video:
The benefits of home performance improvements are clear and widespread. You can be more comfortable, safer, and healthier and save money. Money you can put elsewhere, such as towards the expense of driving with an electric vehicle. What I think is important here is that this isn’t just for Florida. Florida is of course a great place for solar power being the “Sunshine State”, but this isn’t really part of the formula for most homeowners. Generating electricity can be done in many ways, and energy efficient homes are the key to being able to drive for free.
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Tags:car, electric vehicles, Florida, free, home, savings, sunshine
Posted in Efficiency, Electricity Use, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Environment, Green, GreenHomes America, Home, Homeowners, News, Oil / Coal / Natural Gas, Solar / Renewables, Technology, Utility Bills | Leave a Comment »
May 11, 2012
The Alliance to Save Energy posted this graphic comparing some common costs for U.S. homeowners.
As Benjamin Franklin said in 1817 “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” seems to me energy bills should replace taxes.
I’m guessing things are more comfortable in your home than they were for Mr. Franklin and I’m certain you want to keep it that way. But addressing energy efficiency issues in the home can keep you comfortable and Ben Franklin honest, and save you more than a few of those bills with his face on it.
Thanks,
Jason
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Tags:Benjamin Franklin, comfort, Costs, efficiency, energy, green, GreenHomes, home, Insurance, money, save energy, Tax
Posted in Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Green, GreenHomes America, Home, Homeowners, News, Utility Bills | Leave a Comment »
May 8, 2012
GreenHomes America Partner ABC Cooling and Heating, was recently presented the 2012 Energy Upgrade California Highest Performance Award. This award is presented to the contractor that has completed the highest number of Home Performance projects within the PG&E territory in the state of California.
This is a significant achievement since 75% of all Energy Upgrade California projects were completed in the PG&E territory. I won’t steal ABC’s thunder but, collectively GreenHomes America Partner locations have performed close to half of all completions in the State of California! I know this won’t be the last award we will see from ABC Cooling and Heating!
Jerry Unruh
President & Owner
We’re proud to support ABC Cooling and Heating’s locations in Fresno and Hayward as they perform both energy assessments and upgrades from Santa Clara County/SF Bay Area to the Central San Joaquin Valley. Their dedication to quality, hard work and customer service has paid great dividends.
Rest assured that when a GreenHomes America Partner works on your home, those dividends will be more than energy savings. You will experience the service and quality that instills the trust to recommend a company from friend to friend and neighbor to neighbor.
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Tags:ABC Cooling and Heating, Central San Joaquin Valley, efficiency, energy, energy audit, Energy Upgrade California, Fresno, GreenHomes America, Hayward, Highest Performance Award, home, PG&E, Santa Clara County
Posted in Air Conditioning, Air-Sealing, Efficiency, Energy / Efficiency / Renewables, Energy Audits, Green, GreenHomes America, News, Utility Bills | Leave a Comment »
This study comes from a state with a very nice incentive system in place for energy efficiency retrofits. Energy upgrade California is a good place to start if you are a resident of CA. For residents of other states, you can find some incentive programs from DSIRE. The full study can be found here.
