Don Ames's Blog Posts Tagged 'save' (14)

I had just completed a home energy audit and learned that insulation levels and air sealing measures were up-to-speed. After crawling into the attic, performing a duct blaster, checking the temperature of the hot water, and a bunch of other things, I had come to the educated conclusion that this home’s best chance for improved energy efficiency and lower energy bills while heating the house would include replacing the heating source.

The 80% gas furnace is in the garage right next to…

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

I gathered up my auditing equipment and headed off to a neighboring community to perform a home energy audit that was constructed in 1901. Before I head out of the office and leave the comfort of my desk computer, I look up the home through County Records to determine about what year the home was constructed, about how big the home is, and if records show any remodel years.

When records indicate…

The Energy Audit is Complete: The Homeowner Chooses These Energy Saving Improvements

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

Now that the 5 year old has put down the foam dart gun and stopped crawling in and out of the blower door, it's time to make some energy saving recommendations to the homeowner. After completing an energy audit of the home, it is usually fairly easy to start the conversation with the owners on what they should…

Why is there a heating register 4 feet up on the wall?

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

In my last article, I spoke about a home energy audit and the hot tub on the back deck. Remember, it was a manufactured home with a great deck overlooking a roaring hillside stream. Next door, the neighbors were the countryside recyclers, at least I suppose that's what they might call themselves.

Personally, I think I would call them by a…

FIDO Says, "I will show you where to save energy."

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

I have been spreading the news about a home energy monitoring system called FIDO by EcoDog Energy Monitoring. This is part three of a three article series. You may be interested in backtracking a little and checking out part one, 13 strong points to …

What is Air Sealing and How can it Save Energy?

by Don Ames, www.detectenergy.com

Air sealing is important because air leaks through the walls, floor, and ceiling of your home. Air leaks out of your home when the air pressure inside the home is greater than the air pressure outside the home. Air also travels from hot to cold. The bigger the hole and the greater the pressure or temperature difference, the more air…

Clothes Dryer Problems Can Lead to Inefficiency and Fire.

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

Story appeared in my local newspaper the other day about an apartment laundry room that had dryer problems. It occurred to me, being the highly trained home energy auditor that I am, that any clothes dryer that had such a problem that it would catch fire, must have been a very inefficient clothes dryer for a long…

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…

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

At the beginning of a home energy audit, I make it a habit to ask the homeowner if I can see their…

Household Energy Consumption and Successful Energy Education

by Don Ames,  www.detectenergy.com

Two homes…

Energy Auditors: A Professional on a Mission to Save Energy

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com,  

Hopefully, most people that become Doctors, want to be Doctors. If someone is going to go digging around in my belly, I want them to enjoy what they're doing and not wish they were out leading a group of fisherman on a flounder trip.

I feel the same way about Energy Auditors, anyone that is going to test my…

Energy Retrofits and Priorities for Energy Efficiency

by Don Ames,   www.detectenergy.com

Nothing worse than saving…

Are Energy Saving Retrofits Cost-Effective?

by Don Ames

Government and Utility based programs that offer weatherization and other energy saving…

How Oil Pointed the Way to Home Energy Savings

Don Ames

When the oil fields began to be developed in places like North Dakota, manpower was an immediate need. Manpower was needed in remote places where the oil was hiding and having enough ready housing was a problem. The cheapest and quickest solution was manufactured housing. Pull it in, set it up, and your done.

Manufactured home communities began to sprout up over…