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Hosted by Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program, HPC will bring the 2017 National Home Performance Conference and Trade Show to Nashville, TN in March, 2017. HPC conferences offer the industry's leading educational events and trade shows in partnership with the nation's leading experts in home performance and weatherization, combining unparalleled educational components with ideal networking opportunities for all sectors of the industry who share the ... [continue reading]
Having lived in Florida for many years, I have had the opportunity to spend a few days now and then at a major amusement park whose name is likely a household word. At the time of my last visit I was astounded by the admission price! [continue reading]
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published new minimum energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps today. The new standards, which are based on a negotiated agreement, will reduce air conditioner and heat pump energy use by about 7%, translating into hundreds of dollars in electricity bill savings for consumers over the life of their equipment. [continue reading]
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is pleased to announce the four newly-elected members of the 2017 Board of Directors. [continue reading]
There has been a lot of interest of late in the weatherization and broader home performance community in putting a value on the health benefits of weatherization. We’ve come a long way in the last several years and have reached, I think, some strong consensus that the health benefits of weatherization and home performance retrofits are real and valuable. This means that making healthy housing a part of your business plan makes good ... [continue reading]
There’s no doubt that building to Passive House standards results in energy consumption that’s about 70 to 80 percent less than what you’d expect from a traditionally built home (or school, or office building, or factory…you get the picture). That’s due in part to the fact that the home is air tight, super-insulated and uses a heat recovery ventilation system that exhausts air (and moisture) and replaces ... [continue reading]
A new NRDC study shows that water heaters that use high efficiency heat pump technology—the same process that keeps your refrigerator cold—can cut the amount of electricity used to heat water by half or more, saving significant amounts of energy and money on your household electricity bills. [continue reading]
Residential PACE (property assessed clean energy), an innovative solution for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, is being led by a set of industry mavens seeking to realize the promise of this public–private partnership. Specifically, industry stakeholders have come together to create a set of consumer protection standards that ensure homeowners reap the full benefits of PACE while safeguarding against predatory behavior in this nascent market. A couple of weeks ago, the ... [continue reading]
There is no question that the recent election results were a shock to the nation. The voters sent a message: we want change. There is no doubt things will change, but when and how much is yet to be determined. [continue reading]
Behavioral recommendations, or tips, are an integral piece of many energy efficiency programs, ranging from marketing materials (e.g., brochures) to in-home audits, to Home and Business Energy Reports (such as the report shown below). Though information is known to be a critical component of effective interventions, it is important to consider human motivations and needs for this to be effective. This article synthesizes findings from a series of empirical research conducted by See Change ... [continue reading]
