I Really Want to Try the Nest Thermostat
I love the look and idea of this new thermostat called the Nest and want to install one as soon as I can. It's gorgeous. It's simple. And it's smart. I love the look and idea of this new thermostat…
The Energy Vanguard Blog
Do Cardboard Ducts Belong in a LEED Certified Home?
Recently I came across a LEED certified house that had cardboard return ducts. They were all inside the building envelope, but it seemed clear to me that they could lead to problems. Even if the home builder or HVAC contractor…
Why Is Fall a Good Time of Year for Window Condensation?
If you live in an older house with inefficient, single-pane windows, you may have noticed water condensing on the inside surface of the glass lately. Fall happens to be a pretty good time for that to happen. Do you know…
Building Codes Assistance Project — Your Source for Energy Code Info
I've been a big advocate of the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and its adoption by states. We adopted it here in Georgia last year, and it's now fully in effect, including the requirement for Blower Door and duct…
A Visual Guide to Why Fiberglass Batt Insulation Underperforms
Heating and cooling your home sucks more money out of your bank account than any other type of energy consumption (unless you live in a high performance home, in which case the proportions are different but the total is smaller).…
7 Steps to Commissioning a New Home & HVAC System
Ken Fonorow is a friend of mine whom I've known since my days on the Gainesville Energy Advisory Committee when I was in grad school in the mid-'90s. He's also helped build the market for ENERGY STAR and high performance…
An Idea to Simplify the ENERGY STAR New Homes Program
In case you haven't heard, version 3 of the ENERGY STAR new homes program requires homes to be more energy efficient and meet higher standards than version 2 of the program. That is as it should be. Energy codes and…
How I Learned to Count by Building a Green Home
Ten years ago, I was at the front end of building a green, high performance home. (That's me on the ladder connecting the two LVL ridge beams that support the structural insulated panel roof.) It was going to take only…
5 Reasons Bath Fans Have Such Poor Air Flow
I've spent a lot of time in attics looking at problems with insulation, air sealing, HVAC systems, and ductwork. I've also seen why so many bathroom ventilation fans don't move much air. A typical bath fan is rated to move…
Would You Rather Have Low Energy Rates or Low Energy Bills?
Utility companies make a big deal out of the rates they charge their customers. When they go before state public service commissions to plead for relief from demand side management measures, they like to talk about the impact of such…