"O.K., forget all of the Engineer jokes! Thank you very much James. Engineers rule!"
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George M. Matthews
- Walnut Creek, CA
- United States
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George M. Matthews's Groups
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Air Conditioning Contrac…
17 members
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Social Media and Energy …
85 members
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Energy Auditing Equipmen…
78 members
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Energy Upgrade California
48 members
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Marketing Energy Efficie…
208 members
George M. Matthews's Discussions
What is the state of California's plan to have houses at ZNE by 2020?
2 Replies
Could someone in the know please clarify the State's (law or regs) position on a requirement for houses to be Zero Net Energy by 2020?I see that a Bay Area group has created a roadmap to a clean…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Hal Skinner Mar 15, 2012.
Effectively pricing duct sealing
9 Replies
I'm wondering what home performance contractors have found to be the best contract and or pricing method for air sealing duct systems?What happens when the system has leaky areas that are hard…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Sean Lintow Sr Jul 27, 2011.
To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?
9 Replies
A number of home energy pros I'm in discussion with don't think there is much use in keeping old ducts and prefer to replace them with new insulated flex ducts.Can anyone give me a more definitive…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Philip Green Jan 18, 2012.
Blowing smoke - into ducts to find leaks
5 Replies
I've read about problems with blowing smoke into duct systems to find leaks. One article said that the smoke product left some bad residue inside the system. Does anyone have a good…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bruce Looney May 12, 2011.
George M. Matthews's Page
Latest Activity
Guy DuBois replied to George M. Matthews's discussion Trying to find %age energy saving from variety of upgrades in 10K sf multifamily house in the group Building Simulations"Here is a spreadsheet that I have for identifying savings using monthly bills and average monthly temperatures.
We documented actual energy savings using this method during our "Reduce Your Use" contest that we conducted here at…"
Guy DuBois replied to George M. Matthews's discussion Trying to find %age energy saving from variety of upgrades in 10K sf multifamily house in the group Building Simulations"Hi George,
You don't happen to have a spreadsheet handy for those calculations do you? :-)"
John Simons replied to George M. Matthews's discussion Whole House E Test Kit for Sale in the group Energy Auditing Equipment for Sale, Trade or to Purchase"Are you selling both blower door and duct blaster for 2700?"
Eric Sperline replied to George M. Matthews's discussion Whole House E Test Kit for Sale in the group Energy Auditing Equipment for Sale, trade or to purchase"I'm looking for a Bacharach tester but can get one new on-line for approx. $50.00 more than your price. Are you at all flexible with your price?
"
Hal Skinner replied to George M. Matthews's discussion What is the state of California's plan to have houses at ZNE by 2020?"Found this article
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/20983"
Brian Selby replied to George M. Matthews's discussion What is the state of California's plan to have houses at ZNE by 2020?"George,
Check out the CA Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan, it should give you a better idea of what the state has planned.
http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/A54B59C2-D571-440D-9477-3363726F573A/0/CAEnergyEfficiencyStrategicPlan_Jan2011.pdf"
George M. Matthews posted a discussionWhat is the state of California's plan to have houses at ZNE by 2020?
Could someone in the know please clarify the State's (law or regs) position on a requirement for houses to be Zero Net Energy by 2020?I see that a Bay Area group has created a roadmap to a clean energy economy that incorporates 25% of Bay area buildings be ZNE by 2020... …See More
Bruce Navin replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"I am creeped out when crawling around-I keep something in hand to knock down the webs, etc. But the fear of those two is largely overblown. For example, BRS does not use a web, per se; they build more of a cocoon to sleep in & lay eggs(pictured…"
Patrick Michaelyan replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"Take a big shot of "hope for the best" and go to it.
I also set up a series of shop lights before I really go at it. I take a quick look into the crawl in order to determine whether this day may be my last or…"
Craig McManus replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"How do you keep the brown recluse and black widow spiders from biting you in the crawl space?"
Patrick Michaelyan replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"Amen to that Glen.
I am one of those geeks that relishes in the chance to get dirty in a crawl space. While you're in those crawl spaces I recommend beefing up the insulation in the floor in addition to sealing and insulating the ducts or…"
Glen Gallo replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"I think it must be a case by case evaluation. In most cases I think you will find it cheaper and more effective to simply replace the existing duct work..
As far as the economic argument is concerned simply get it bid both ways…"
Patrick Michaelyan replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"I am going to read the LBL report soon, but my sense for this is that you should keep the existing ductwork (assuming it is sheet metal) rather than replace it with insulated flexduct. If the ducts are accessible (and I do understand that this is…"
Craig McManus replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"In a humid climate in a crawlspace if there is a tear in the outer plastic then water condenses in the duct insulation so then it might be better to replace with new flex duct. Is there an easy way to reinsulate existing duct and make the…"
Bob Blanchette replied to George M. Matthews's discussion To replace old leaky ducts with new flex ducts or to seal the old with mastic?"If it's UNDER the house I'd keep the metal stuff. Critters LOVE flex !!"
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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…"
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