What is Humidity and How Does it Effect Home Energy Savings

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

We all know what humidity is - it is the cause of the mold on the ceiling in the bathroom. Humidity is what happens to the bathroom mirror during a shower. Humidity is why we have an exhaust fan in the ceiling of the bathroom. Humidity is why a hot summers day in …

This time two weeks ago I was in Anaheim, California, at the National Association of Realtors’ Annual Conference, themed “Seize the Day“.

I am still struck by the bigness of it all. Not just the sheer numbers (over 20,000 of us!), but by the strength of the passion and the vision.  Yet I am still wondering, are we delivering what future generations of home owners need…

There are plenty of concerns arising when deciding which home heating solution to invest in.

The market is full of options offering so many types of space heating devices one starts to wonder which one is the best choice. Usually the types considered vary from: portable gas heaters to electric space heaters like infrared heaters, ceramic heaters or portable oil-filled radiators.

There is no rule of a thumb answer for this but what I like to do is to approach the problem from…

Getting the Most out of Your Pergola, Think Solar Power Panel

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

Sitting in a meeting the other day, I was listening to a discussion on where to put half-a-million dollars worth of solar power panels. The discussion considered placing panels on roofs, on picnic shelters, and carports - it's not easy trying to find a place for a bunch of solar panels. After all, there are things to keep…

The following appeared on my blog Mapawatt and is in response to the "free energy plans" that have infiltrated Google and Facebook advertisements. I'm afraid a large number of people get suckered into buying these and are left with junk.

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It still amazes me that with all our posts dedicated to trying to help homeowners save energy, our most popular posts are on free energy scams (mainly…

bre passivhaus newsletter

What does this mean? How can we get to zero duct leakage?

When the testing equipment is not small enough to accurately measure the leakage - then it is called zero - usually below 10 CFM of leakage.

Essentially every seam of all the metal and every inside connection of the…

Does anyone have experience with window films installed over e-glass? Is there a payback on south facing windows during the hot summer months? Or would transparent shades work better?

Consumers will soon face new decisions when purchasing light bulbs, and many don't even know it yet. Beginning January 1, 2012, lighting manufacturers will no longer be producing the popular 100-watt incandescent light bulb. For professionals in the energy efficiency industry, this has been common knowledge since the passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007. Although many consumers have been slow to understand the pending changes, awareness is trending upward, according to…

This is one of my "Energy Tip of the Week" articles. If you are an energy pro please add to my free energy measures list below, thanks.

Here are some great FREE ways to make your home more energy efficient and comfortable.

The National Association of Realtors’ annual Profile of Home Buyers/Sellers is out.  The 2011 results are impressive not because of anything new, but because of consistent results about homebuyer interest in…

Your Home: Calculating Potential Energy Savings With the Home Heating Index

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com,  the Energy Spy Insider

This is about taking a miles-per-gallon approach to calculating Home Heating Performance and Potential Home Energy Savings. I will cover the Home Heating Index formula that will allow you to evaluate your Energy Performance and Energy Saving Potential. By using this…

2012 International Passive House Conference

“Passive House components across the globe” – manufacturer’s exchange

Passive House has taken the world by storm, dramatically increasing demand for Passive House suitable products in all corners of the globe. In order to help meet this demand, we would like to offer participants of the 2012 International Passive House Conference a Manufacturer’s exchange, to be held at the Hanover Congress Centre…

I am NOT a blogger and this is my first post (could be my last).

A very good friemd mine who lives in Chicago has an "urban Rehabber program" wher he teaches newbies and thse with little experience on how to become more profitable in the Rehab sector. As an Energy advocate archiect, I get his posts.

Here is one about MYTHS I thought some of you may be interested in (Just the messenger not the author)

More…

Attending a week long class where veteran trainer Rick Chitwood is moderator has been entertaining and joyful. In the class which is inside a house that is being retrofit completely we are now designing and installing a super efficient HVAC system.…

by Don Ames

If you don't want to read the whole article, at least go to the bottom of the page and watch the screen cast. Take a look at some real effective garage door insulation. No, I didn't make this up.…

By Guest Blogger Stephen L. Cowell

A recent article in Newsweek, “Obama’s Big Green Mess,”describes what can happen when contractors are “unfamiliar with the nuances of specialized weatherization work.”  The fact is, installing furnaces that exhaust poisonous fumes, putting in…