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New Duct Sizing Calculator Available from ASHRAE
Jodi Scott
A new duct sizing calculator from ASHRAE and the Air Distribution Institute (ADI) allows HVAC air distribution system designers to more accurately size ducts, especially flex ducts under varying amounts of compression, based on research results. [continue reading]
Portland, Oregon Passes Landmark Policy to Disclose Energy Performance to Homebuyers
Julie Caracino and Joe Cullen
On December 14, 2016, the Portland City Council unanimously adopted an ordinance requiring home energy scores for single family homes listed for sale. This innovative new policy will help Portland create jobs for its home performance contractors and assessors, reduce carbon emissions, and help the city's consumers save money on energy. The Home Performance Coalition (HPC) collaborated with the Home Performance Guild of Oregon (HP Guild), Earth Advantage and other stakeholders to support the Ordinance’s ... [continue reading]
Charting a Course to Healthier, High-Performance Homes
Macie Melendez
A home is intimately tied to the health and wellbeing of its residents. It is where people go to take care of themselves and seek comfort. People in the United States spend approximately 70% of their time at home, which means that ensuring homes are a healthy refuge is vitally important. Evidence in a new, groundbreaking DOE report, Home RX: The Health Benefits of Home Performance, shows that home performance upgrades can improve the quality of ... [continue reading]
The Home Performance Coalition Partners with DOE's WAP
Lindsay Bachman Flickinger
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]
Understanding When to Raise Prices
Mike Gorman
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]
DOE Completes New Consensus-Based Air Conditioner Standards
Andrew deLaski
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 Welcomes Newly-Elected Board Members
Tom Herron
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is pleased to announce the four newly-elected members of the 2017 Board of Directors. [continue reading]
Healthy Homes and a Healthy Bottom Line
Jim Gunshinan
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]
Side Benefits of a Passive House
Rob Nicely
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]
Very Cool: Heat Pump Water Heaters Save Energy and Money
Pierre Delforge and Christina Swanson
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]
