"Look, I took my MOTHER from a $4000 furnace replacement to a $16,000 job.
I have a client who chose my $17,000 Hybrid solution over the competitions $11,000 one. They are STILL realizing/understanding/discovering problems solved by my…"
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Melissa Baldridge
- Female
- Denver, CO
- United States
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Melissa Baldridge's Discussions
Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+
14 Replies
Can someone weigh in on what's involved to change out an 80 percent furnace (or worse) to a 90 percent (or better)? In terms of both work scope AND cost? Take out the furnace, and what's the cost…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by tedkidd yesterday.
Support a Green Real Estate Company Doing Good Work
1 Reply
Hey energy-efficiency colleagues,Our affiliate real estate company, GreenSpot Real Estate, is qualifying for a small-business grant, and I NEED YOUR HELP. GreenSpot helps the planet, and we want to…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Diane Chojnowski Jun 13, 2012.
The Nest Learning Thermostat - Good or Not So Much?
62 Replies
We're moving our office space and doing a lot of the build-out ourselves. In our HVAC overhaul, we need to replace the manual thermostat with a setback model. So I bought a Nest b/c I read about…Continue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bob Blanchette Aug 17, 2012.
#BestBuy selling kilowatt hours in Chicago
1 Reply
Is this a good thing or not? http://bit.ly/GRHBNtContinue
Started this discussion. Last reply by Bob Blanchette Mar 26, 2012.
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Melissa Baldridge's Page
Latest Activity
Bob Blanchette replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"If your bids aren't competitive you don't get the work. You have to offer something your competitor doesn't to beat out the low bidders. Low bidders common practice is condenser swaps without regard to the Furnace/A-coil thats been in…"
tedkidd replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"So, very small adjustments to orientation can cause huge variation in destination.
What I'm suggesting is YOU are the expert to the homeowner. They don't tell the surgeon what operation they want. You are the taxi…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"Don't get me wrong, if the customer wants the better equipment then sell it. Just don't push the sale on high end gear promising the customer unrealistic energy savings, I'll leave that to the fly by night window salesmen. My point is…"
tedkidd replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"Bob, could you expand on your opinion? Specifically:
Again, are you able to factor in problems that need solving, or only able to look at equipment replacement the way one might look at replacing a toaster?
So I best understand really…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"I have to disagree. Top end equipment should be bought for comfort reasons, not energy savings. If a house is reasonably tight, furnaces over 80% don't have a reasonable payback time in the south. If a HO spends $500 per winter in NG costs, it…"
Bob Blanchette replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+""Most furnace I see are over sized by 2-4 times needed."
Exactly why furnaces never actually see their AFUE in the real world. Same with AC units, few ever see their rated SEER. A correctly sized 80% will burn less gas over a winter than a…"
Eric Kjelshus replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"A) air flow is the biggest thing. I can put in a funace with out return and just burns it up in side and runs on high limit size it right and add lots of filter space. get it down to .5 total SP and WOW lots of air flow. Long life very…"
tedkidd left a comment for Melissa Baldridge"Wow. Thanks!
Wow, your website is stunning! Somebody really gets graphic design!
Hey, could you maybe help me with this?
http://bit.ly/TrustTransparencyTruth
"
tedkidd replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"This one is pretty good:
Size and equipment quality may have serious impact on price if the contractor uses a flat markup pricing strategy, and not so much if they use a labor burdened pricing approach.
For example, jumping a size may…"
Melissa Baldridge commented on Elisa Wood's blog post Momentum builds for energy efficiency...but is the wolf at the door?"Hi Ted,
Nope, 'not directed at you in particular, but I'm glad it made you feel good. I posted it because I think we, as an industry, are ALL seeking to wrest big changes inside big industries - real estate, construction, etc. …"
Melissa Baldridge commented on Elisa Wood's blog post Momentum builds for energy efficiency...but is the wolf at the door?"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.
-Mahatma Ghandi
"
Melissa Baldridge's discussion was featuredChanging 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+
Can someone weigh in on what's involved to change out an 80 percent furnace (or worse) to a 90 percent (or better)? In terms of both work scope AND cost? Take out the furnace, and what's the cost for all ducting, labor, etc.? Even a rough number for my reference is fine.Here in Colorado, we have required "hi / low venting" to allow makeup air for <90 percent furnaces. I know it's important for the furnace to have that, but MAN, I hate 'em. They always add a significant amount of air…See More
Eric Kjelshus replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"I am talking about this at ACI next week. Most furnace I see are over sized by 2-4 times needed. The 90% to 98% take more air a lot more air. When I started HVAC we had a temp rise of 90'to105' now…"
Adam Gloss replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"Melissa,
You've gotten some good feedback so far, and can see that there are A LOT of variables involved in answering your question. Unfortunately, even as an HVAC contractor, I can't give you the short answer you are looking for either.…"
Nick Helmholdt replied to Melissa Baldridge's discussion Changing 80 Percent Furnaces to 90+"I can't speak for Colorado, but in Michigan we see a wide range of prices for a lot of the reasons that Sean Lintow mentioned. From my perspective, we also see a lot of homeowners concerned about indoor air quality and adding 4"…"
Profile Information
- Company
- GreenSpot
- Professional Certification
- LEED AP O+M, HERS Rater, BPI Envelope Specialist
- Professional Interests
- BUY green. SELL green. LIVE green.
GreenSpot Real Estate is your green home and energy-efficiency property specialist. We offer traditional real estate services. AND green is our specialty.
- Website URL
- http://www.GreenSpotRE.com
- Twitter ID
- @GreenSpot_RE
Melissa Baldridge's Photos
Melissa Baldridge's Blog
Code Green – Building Code Upgrades in 2012 Sideline Old Homes
Posted on November 17, 2012 at 2:29pm — 2 Comments
NEWS RELEASE - Denver Real Estate Company Unveils "Green" Window Stickers for Existing-Home Listings & Pilot Nets Top Dollar
Denver, Nov. 1, 2012: GreenSpot Real Estate recently launched its “GreenSpot” eco-makeover program for existing-home listings, including a “window sticker” showing the property’s…
ContinuePosted on October 31, 2012 at 6:28pm — 7 Comments
Green Cipherin' - What's Slowing the Mainstreaming of Green Building, and What Homeowners Can Do about It
MLSs (Multiple Listing Services) across the country are unveiling “green-field addenda” (GFAs) and searchable fields to highlight green features. …
Posted on April 9, 2012 at 7:00pm — 2 Comments
Big Blue Goes Green - How 203Ks May Be the Future of Green Mortgages
When Sarah Coleman and Carl Sack first saw “Big Blue,” they knew they were home. The massive house, so named because all the rooms were painted shades of the color, was built in the 1920s on two and a half lots in the Corey-Merrill neighborhood of inner-city Denver.
But their…
ContinuePosted on March 27, 2012 at 8:00pm — 10 Comments
Comment Wall (2 comments)
- At 1:24pm on June 14, 2013, tedkidd said…
Wow. Thanks!
Wow, your website is stunning! Somebody really gets graphic design!
Hey, could you maybe help me with this?
- At 7:03pm on September 11, 2011,
Diane Chojnowski said… Hi Melissa,
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
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.
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