NHCP

 I got lucky and found a volunteer spot for Nashville Conference, so I hope to see friends there.

Energy Audits

     I am about to re-embark on Energy Audits for CAC as a subcontractor. I forget how much redundant detail is required by these reports. These home are participants in the Round-it-UP program and there seems to a level of distrust around how the money is spent. Same thing now with Habitat. What is causing all this? Am I so naïve? Is the Weatherization Business really that corrupt?

I know I'm going crazy, but..

 We cannot "Drill, Baby, Drill!" our way out of conflict with Puntin. "All of the above" energy policy is short term and fallacious. We are living beyond our means in terms of global resilience. Got to find the off ramp for aggression, the costs are too great. Its all about population, so let's all move to the moon and Mars, "To infinity and Beyond!"

Clean Air In Buildings

   More government legislation coming on home efficiency and ventilation. YEA! The Clean Air in Buildings Challenge is promoting monitoring Indoor Air Quality in our built environment. Long overdue.

   Pandemic control requires IAQ control for good health indoors. Schools are way behind the mark as are other municipal and office buildings, not to mention homes... As climate chases us, more and more indoors, our shelter needs us to take greater responsibility for indoor air quality. Smart thermostats are the central control system, HVAC companies have to get up to speed on this. Continuous conditioning is becoming the norm as lifestyle and structure changes in tighter buildings requires tuning. A system that is programed to adjust to loads requires expert skills at commissioning with ongoing tweaks to respond to occupant behavior. When I model a new home or audit an existing one, my agreement with the occupant is for 4 seasons after CO is issued or the retrofit is done. I suggest that my HVAC buddies look at the "Set it and forget it." mentality and add it to their service contracts, some surely already have. Heathy homes, safe shelter and sustainable efficiency is the future. Get On Board!

Healthy Home

 These days there is a lot of research on the effect of weatherization on indoor air quality. A recent study here in Knoxville of the monetary benefit of whole house makeovers show a home can benefit some 5 times more savings through reduced asthma and respiratory occurrences. Tightening up a home and providing ventilation is a 2 fold improvement in both economic gain and occupant health. Get an energy audit and improve your health as well as reduce your utility cost. Win Win!

     A recent home we helped design tested at .40ACH50 and has recorded a utility cost of $.48 per day. Simple, sensitive HVAC and IAQ systems control thermal comfort and good air quality. Air tightness, good windows and doors and imperative. We should all benefit from modern building science. Science works!