Independent home energy auditors have always been a rare breed. In the past decade, though, an army of them has gone through RESNET or BPI training programs and hit the streets in search of homes to analyze. At first, these…
I just finished teaching another ENERGY STAR Version 3 class for HERS raters. As usual, the new HVAC requirements generated the most discussion and raised the most concerns. I haven't heard any hard numbers yet, but I'm wondering how much…
The class will be held in Atlanta, Georgia and will go from 9 am to 5 pm both days. You can find out more information about the class as well as register for it by clicking below. Energy Vanguard has…
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…
Home builders and HERS raters in the US have been up in arms about the new changes with Version 3 of the ENERGY STAR new homes program. Guess what? Canada thinks we're wimps. Here's why: Home builders and HERS raters…
One of the most frustrating parts of my job as a Home Energy Rating (HERS) provider is dealing with the size of air conditioners installed in ENERGY STAR homes. My frustration has spilled over here in the Energy Vanguard blog…
Here's a house we designed for a builder in the historic Grant Park neighborhood in Atlanta, which should be completed by January 1, 2012. The home is 2-stories, has 4-bedrooms and 3-and-a-half baths, and is just under 2,200 square feet. The builder decided…
At Building Science Summer Camp a few weeks ago, I heard from Sam Rashkin that changes to the ENERGY STAR Version 3 guidelines and implementation schedule were on the horizon. This week, the EPA announced those changes—and some are rather…
About a decade ago, I read about a new book that Stephen King had just published. It was titled, On Writing, and I was puzzled about why he'd want to write about writing. I mean, the guy's a fiction writer,…
As the Quality Assurance Designee for our HERS rating providership, I do something that isn't healthful. I know it's probably driving up my blood pressure and taking years off my life. But I do it because I have to. It's…