Best Practices (Residential)

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Best Practices (Residential)

Best Building, Retrofitting, or even Auditing Practices - what are they, what should change, what needs to find it's way to the dust bin of history?

Members: 253
Latest Activity: Apr 22

Discussion Forum

Attic ventilation with mixed soffit heights. 34 Replies

Passive venting solution needed.How do you manage the air flow to properly ventilate an attic when one soffit is low and the other somewhere in between low and high?  I have a cape with an almost…Continue

Tags: venting, attic

Started by Bud Poll. Last reply by Bud Poll Apr 17.

Looking for advice on garage-to-house air sealing 12 Replies

We know that air from attached garages moves into houses, and we have some data on the size of the leakage area from the garage to the house, based upon field research. However, we are now working on…Continue

Started by Don Fugler. Last reply by Eric Kjelshus Apr 4.

Variable Frequency Drive controllers 3 Replies

Would anyone out there happen to have experience with a retro-fit VFD controller for a pool pump system?  I'm interested in the complexity of the the retro-fit as well as the measured savings.Continue

Started by Eric Sperline. Last reply by Dennis Heidner Mar 30.

Connected home refrigerators - are we excited? 7 Replies

A read-through of the revisions proposed for ENERGY STAR refrigerators (expected to take effect in March 2014) indicate that "connectivity" capability is included in the guideline. …Continue

Tags: response, appliances, demand, STAR, ENERGY

Started by Barbara Smith. Last reply by Barbara Smith Mar 22.

RESNET & Confirmed Ratings - no more fake numbers 2 Replies

Who says they don't listen or they deny almost every response? I just got the email last night that...Accepted. BSR/RESNET Standard 301-201X will be modified to require testing of envelope leakage…Continue

Started by Sean Lintow Sr. Last reply by Sean Lintow Sr Mar 2.

To tyvek or not to tyvek... that is the question 3 Replies

Lately I have been seeing & getting numerous questions on the use of WRB’s or Weather Resistive Barriers. For example; do I need it if I am using foam? If I am installing foam, should it be…Continue

Started by Sean Lintow Sr. Last reply by Bud Poll Jan 22.

Ridge Vent NFA 15 Replies

I'm confused.  If a ridge vent is advertising 18 in² of Net Free Vent Area (NFA) per linear foot, yet is only 3/4" thick, what is the real NFA.  18 in² would be the exposed edge of the vent (9 in²…Continue

Tags: NFA, vents, ridge

Started by Bud Poll. Last reply by Bob Blanchette Jan 5.

Attempting to identify fireplace outside air intake 4 Replies

Wood burning fireplace on 13 year old home in Wisconsin. Exterior wall with cantilevered chase. During blower door test I found noticeable air leakage to the inside from above the metal firebox.…Continue

Started by John Shillito. Last reply by Ed Voytovich Dec 25, 2012.

Don't eat your sweater 13 Replies

Many of you may have  heard Joe Lstiburek say"Build tight, ventilate right and don't eat your sweater.."or you may heave read where John Straube called walls without outside insulation "Turds"I would…Continue

Started by John Brooks. Last reply by tedkidd Oct 18, 2012.

Exhaust Fan Venting - Bathroom, ERV, & HRV 34 Replies

In another thread (that grew quite unwieldy) the question came up about exhaust ventingRobert…Continue

Started by Sean Lintow Sr. Last reply by Robert Riversong Oct 10, 2012.

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Comment by John Nicholas on January 18, 2011 at 4:20pm

Sean,  

Do you have a link to the slow rise foam.  I haven't heard about that approach.

 

 

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on January 18, 2011 at 3:41pm
John in many cases, those area's are so messed up around here, we end up rebuilding the exterior walls & occasionally the floors in those "porch additions". I remember one that still had the original railing and they framed above it with 2x2's. In those cases and it is still in good condition you are probably going to have to add it from the outside (i.e. foam panels) or consider using slow rise - pourable foam if you can from the inside
Comment by John Nicholas on January 18, 2011 at 3:20pm

I've done several audits on houses built between 1900 and 1930.  They all have an area that is now either kitchen, bathroom or both. These areas look like they were a back porch originally. 

The construction seems to be lacking, no insulation, and 3 of 4 no room for insulation, and very thin.

I've been working with taking a window or 3 out of the wall. Trying to build insulation into the wall and doing some air sealing at the same time.  This seems to just be standard 2x4 and insulate then drywall.

Does someone have a different material approach or a different approach to these types of construction?

 

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on January 9, 2011 at 6:11am

First I hope everyone is geared up & ready for a great New Year. I did change one option on this board which is the "send message to the group" has been disabled. This was done for two reasons - number one is to eliminate anyone using this for spam purposes, and the second is if you post a message there, no one can really answer it. So if you do have a question, best practice, etc... please post it in the Discussion area above so we can help you out or even learn something new. 

 

Now if you do have a question, comment, etc... and wish to post it anonymously, you can always add me as a friend & send it to me - I will gladly post it for you.

Comment by Sean Lintow Sr on December 24, 2010 at 6:02am

I would like to wish you all a Safe & Merry Christmas along with a bountiful New Year:

Happy Holidays to all and to all a little festive cheer… 

Festive cheer = links to Martin Holladays 4 Christmas Carols, Energy Circle signing the Blower Door Man is coming to town, a few parodies of the Twas the Night before XMas, and some great LED Christmas Light Displays

Merry Christmas everyone & thanks for joining in the discussions & emphasizing Best Practices

Comment by A. Tamasin Sterner on December 8, 2010 at 8:08am
Yep. We ask them what they think is going on that is causing the issue they are concerned about. We ask them how they feel about their energy bills. Mostly we listen.
Comment by Dennis McCarthy on December 8, 2010 at 6:18am
A good point ; wanting to know a homeowners expectations.
We ascertain the customers goals right away defining if they are trying to get 10% or 30% energy savings . Since getting 30% savings is more involved people appreciate choices ol what it cost to get 10- 15% Energy Consumption cuts.Ultimately its up to a home owner to decide what gets tended to . Weather stripping & use of quality Leds
Just these two combined tasks would save the ave h/o about 20% real costs- Both those tasks are something everyone can & should do.
As a solution provider I get paid to make the intel & insights I gather
come together to give people choices . Making the improvements
whether DIY or thru pros, what I think we would all agree with is that
now is the time to be making all of our bldgs more energy efficient,
using all the tools and talent we have!
Comment by John Nicholas on December 8, 2010 at 4:40am
OK! So you have a good sense of wording questions to get the maximum information. Are there other questions you have had success with?
Comment by A. Tamasin Sterner on December 8, 2010 at 3:01am
Sure thing. After a potential customer contacts us about scheduling an audit, we explain that we require certain info before we'll schedule. We require the regular: sq. ft., number of occupants, HVAC system types and fuels, at least 12 months energy use for each type of energy, and photos of the exterior. We also ask the customer this question: "How would you like your home to be different as a result of Pure Energy's audit process?" This is a better question than "Why did you call us for an audit?" because it encourages the person to imagine a better future in their home.
Comment by John Nicholas on December 7, 2010 at 6:28pm
Tamasin, Would you expand on your concept of asking the HO how they want their house when we leave?
 

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