"You make some valid points, especially with the base rate charges. Increasing the base rate instead of the rate per unit of consumption actually decreases the incentive to save energy. The local corporation commissions should work to…"
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Bob Blanchette
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- Oklahoma City, OK
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Bob Blanchette's Groups
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Hall of Shame
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EnergySoft Energy Pro
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Best Practices (Resident…
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HVAC
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Bob Blanchette's Discussions
The commercial side, are we missing big opportunities?
2 Replies
Most of what is discussed here involves lowing energy costs for residential customers, hence the name HOME energy pros. The commercial customer has a monthly energy bill that often exceeds the amount…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bruce Navin Jul 12, 2012.
How does your utility use smart meter technology?
5 Replies
A quick poll to see how widespread smart meter technology has become.What type of power meter do you have, and how does your utility use the technology?a: Analog dial meterb: Digital, but not a…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Rod Fox Aug 9, 2012.
Cooling blower off delay vs. Humidity
10 Replies
How much does the blower off delay at the end of a cooling cycle add to the humidity? It's been discussed that leaving the fan on all the time while in cooling mode increases humidity dramatically,…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bob Blanchette Jul 2, 2012.
Smartgrids, Smartstats, and Variable Peak Pricing
1 Reply
We're on a project installing "smartstats" for customers. I'd like to get some feedback to what other Building Science guys thought about the program/thermostat. The costs of energy vary based on…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Tom Delconte Apr 8, 2012.
Bob Blanchette's Page
Latest Activity
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"Amen, make energy show it's true cost instead of subsidizing it.
We have some of the lowest energy costs to the consumer in the world, therefore little incentive to use less. Notice how things such as tankless water heaters, minisplits, and…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Lester Shen's blog post Behavior and Usability: At the Interface of Human-Building Interaction"The main problem with pay as you go energy is it is difficult for utilities to implement their fixed monthly meter fees and other service charges. If utilities really wanted people to use less energy they would build the price of the fixed monthly…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Tom Delconte's blog post Robert Shiller Says Retrofits Are Never Worth It!"Depends a LOT on rent vs housing prices in your area. Look at the 1% rule, if a house would rent for $800, and you can buy it for $80k or less, in many cases buying is the better option. If that same house would sell for over $80k, renting may be…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"I think you nailed it right there. Airflow is everything and that's where your customer is missing it for comfort. 4 tons is nuts for that far North, it's not like they are getting it delivered anyways. Having 2 small systems 1.5ton/50k…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"HVAC is one of the biggest things people can do as an energy upgrade, yet few people do until their old system finally dies. The contractor selling the system has no incentive to give the customer a lower power bill, just to sell more expensive…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Bijou Lulla's blog post Solar Energy + Energy Efficiency – time to sing the Duet?"The problem with solar panels is payback time exceeds life of the equipment. Passive solar design can be implemented at the time of construction with energy savings that exceed the increase in the typical mortgage payment. Passive solar "cash…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Paul Stevens's discussion Peak Energy Saver"Unless your utility bills you for low power factor (I've not seen one that does for residential) this device will save no money. On commercial applications a simple capacitor wired across the motor leads or power line is what is used to correct…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Home Energy Magazine's discussion Air Source Heat Pumps Question from Colorado"In our area payback time for a Dual Fuel system exceeds the expected lifetime of the equipment. Most homeowners give up on the heat pump the first time they feel the warmth of the gas heat."
Bob Blanchette replied to Bud Poll's discussion Attic ventilation with mixed soffit heights. in the group Best Practices (Residential)"In our area attic ventilation is primarily about not overheating the attic, ice dams aren't an issue for us. There is almost always a breeze of at least 5MPH, south in summer, north in winter. If the wind shifts in the day the temperature can…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Bud Poll's discussion Attic ventilation with mixed soffit heights. in the group Best Practices (Residential)"I've found even a mild wind of 5MPH throws all the NPP theories straight out the window. Structure your vents to work with the prevailing wind rather than NPP if you live a windy climate."
Bob Blanchette replied to Tom Delconte's discussion Energy Myths- Fact or Fiction?"Setbacks make a difference in most homes if combined with utility time of use or variable peak pricing energy cost structures. Setting back 5 degrees when rates are 4 times that of off peak will make a big difference in most electric bills. With…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Chris Laumer-Giddens's blog post Installing Ducted Mini-Splits and ERV in Modern High Performance Home"Inverter based technology is marketed as a premium product with high margins, IMHO that's a big reason we don't see it much in this country. If it were common as in other countries price would drop dramatically. Minisplits as primary…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Chris Laumer-Giddens's blog post Installing Ducted Mini-Splits and ERV in Modern High Performance Home"I'd say with a low load house there is less of a need for high tech HVAC systems. As loads lower, payback times become longer vs. a conventional system. It becomes a matter of comfort more than energy savings at some point."
Bob Blanchette commented on Dale Stephens's blog post Learning Thermostat - a huge impact on Energy Savings"Tedkidd I experimented with that last summer, but haven't collected enough data to have any conclusive results. Our house has a lot of mass relative to it's size, so "precooling" may end up being an effective strategy. Using 4KWH…"
Bob Blanchette commented on Dale Stephens's blog post Learning Thermostat - a huge impact on Energy Savings"The website only shows a line for the temperature vs time of day/year. I can pull KWH and cost per hour/day/month/year. It doesn't state how much of the $147 savings was from reduced AC use during the 2-7pm weekday peaks, but since the AC is…"
Profile Information
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- Corix Utilities
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- Smartgrid systems, HVAC.
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- http://www.ogepet.com/programs/smarthours.aspx
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Bob Blanchette's Blog
Replaced my A/C this weekend, results of downsizing by 1/3.
Recently my 13 yr old Carrier A/C devolved a leak and I chose to replace the system rather than track down the leak and repair the coil. I had been reading about doing manual J calculations and how contractors are scared to death to undersize. I had been talking to co-workers about this and it's an uphill battle getting them to think different than 1 ton per 500sq ft. So I decided to take confidence in correct sizing and "put my money where my mouth is" and install a 2 ton sized…
ContinuePosted on September 2, 2012 at 4:39pm — 1 Comment
Just Signed up for OG&E Smarthours Program, A new way to manage energy use
How SmartHours Plus works: It costs more for electricity during peak periods of high customer demand.
Other factors, like weather conditions and the time of year, also drive electrical prices higher. SmartHours Plus,
sometimes known as Variable Peak Pricing (VPP), allows you to save when costs are lower, or off peak. Peak hours
are 2 to 7 p.m. weekdays, and prices during those hours vary based on demand (see chart). You’ll get advance
notice of tomorrow’s peak price the…
Posted on January 17, 2012 at 1:30pm
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 1:46pm on January 17, 2012,
Diane Chojnowski said… Hi Bob,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros! Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Thanks!
Diane, HEP Moderator
- At 7:55am on January 14, 2012, Diane Chojnowski said…
Hi Bob,
Welcome to Home Energy Pros! Feel free to join the conversation in the Forum and Groups. And share your energy efficiency photos, videos and upcoming events. If you're blogging about home performance, this is the place for you!
Don't forget to add your location on our Member Map. We'd be happy to see Sweden represented!
Thanks!
Diane, HEP Moderator
Home Energy Pros
Home Energy Pros was founded by the developers of Home Energy Saver Pro (sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) and brought to you in partnership with Home Energy magazine.
Latest Activity
Bud Poll replied to Bachi Brunato's discussion Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans"This is a topic I have discussed many times, but unfortunately cost is all too often the deciding…"
Sean Lintow Sr replied to Bachi Brunato's discussion Boxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans"If you can't talk them into replacing with IC rated...
Look into Tenmat - those are designed…"
Bachi Brunato posted a discussionBoxing and Insulating Around Non-ICAT Cans
I have a client with 16) 4" halogen recessed light fixtures in the attic.I'd like to cover the cans…See More
Dennis Heidner replied to Patrick Michaelyan's discussion Hot Upper Stories"Could you have them make a simple two line graph of the outside temperature, noting sun/clouds,…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"You make some valid points, especially with the base rate charges. Increasing the base rate instead…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"Amen, make energy show it's true cost instead of subsidizing it.
We have some of the lowest…"
Dennis Heidner replied to Jose Macho's discussion Why Are Energy-Saving Home Inprovements Down??"The press report really doesn't give enough information to clearly answer why they are…"
Edward Foskey commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump"Gustavo,
Thanks for the input. I agree with you in that I will be waiting till my system's…"
Gustavo Melo commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump"Any system that is out of warranty is really a coin toss as to whether it is financially better to…"
Dennis Heidner replied to J.C. Martel's discussion Disasters & sustainable energy"Such as Greensburg…"
Tom Delconte commented on Edward Foskey's blog post Preparing to Update the Heat Pump"Thanks, Ed, I get it now. I would just put in what my hvac guy tells me to put in: a $17,000…"
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