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With the Google buyout of NEST thermostats, attention has turned from the “smart meter” to the thermostat as a focal point of residential energy efficiency. (Read this recent editorial by Alan Meier.) But several years ago Energy Star decided to no longer certify programmable thermostats, since several studies showed that people at home did not take advantage of the thermostat’s programming possibilities. One reason why people didn’t program ... [continue reading]
If we want to make good, or great, home performance a reality for more people and families across North America, we must come to some agreement on standard retrofit packages that work. Not every house is the same, but we can agree on standards that can be widely, quickly, and efficiently applied to similar housing types. The home performance community has more than three decades of experience to bear on the question. Please add your ... [continue reading]
An article published in The New York Times titled "How To Get A Job At Google" got me thinking about one of the most innovative companies in the 21st century. Google, the people who want to "organize the world's information," was named one of the best places to work in 2012 and 2013 not only because of the free food 24/7, but also because of their culture and the Googlers who work there. [continue reading]
Quantity Quotes is a great tool for builders and contracters looking to save time and money on bulk purchases of energy-efficient products. [continue reading]
Today the Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) announced the launch of a national rating program to provide customers with an affordable, easy to understand rating of their home that can be combined with a comprehensive home energy audit. The BPI Rating Program is now available in Florida, which last July recognized BPI as one of a select group of organizations authorized to provide a Building Energy-Efficiency Rating System (BERS) in the state. BPI's program begins ... [continue reading]
Many years ago I worked for a boss that would occasionally ask me questions that he already knew the answers to. Why? He wanted to know if I knew the answer. A couple of years ago I started asking contractors in my seminars a question. Like my old boss, I thought I knew the answer to the question before I asked it. I was wrong! The simple question involved how many times the contractor called ... [continue reading]
Our motto at Home Energy, especially today, could be, We Love Houses. We do, and I have to admit to being a little house-proud. I feel good about the simple lifestyle we live at home, and the low amount of energy we use compared to our neighbors. But “pride goes before the fall,” paraphrasing Proverbs 16:18. [continue reading]
There’s no doubt that, living in the digital age, the internet plays a crucial role in the success or failure of any business. In the building industry, this can especially be the case as clients take to the internet and review boards to find qualified contractors. A strong online presence can do wonders for your business and what’s more, creating an online presence for your business doesn’t need to ... [continue reading]
I remember my parents getting our family’s first computer from my school in the ’90s. It was small and the screen was black with green lettering. It was primarily for communication between parents and teachers, but it was cool and it was useful. Our next computer took residence on a huge desk right near our dining room table. I didn’t use it much, but I watched my parents and my ... [continue reading]
I worked as a janitor at St. Camillus elementary school after school and in the summers when I was in high school. I enjoyed the camaraderie with the other high school kids I worked with, and the crusty Dutch man who was our boss. We cleaned every afternoon in the school year and on weekends, and then painted, cut the grass, and did maintenance on the heating system and other equipment in the summer. We ... [continue reading]
