Comments
Enter your comments in the box below:
(Please note that all blog entries and comments are subject to review prior to posting.)
While we will do our best to monitor all comments and blog posts for accuracy and relevancy, Home Energy is not responsible for content posted by our readers or third parties. Home Energy reserves the right to edit or remove comments or blog posts that do not meet our community guidelines.
What's The Real Value of HPXML? Hint: It's The People Behind the Standard
Noel Merket
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado is Transforming Energy from the way it is generated and used today to the systems that will power our world tomorrow. NREL is the only Department of Energy laboratory exclusively focused on energy efficiency and renewable energy. As such, NREL’s research programs advance the science of sustainable transportation, renewable power, and energy efficiency. The Residential Buildings Research Group within the Lab leads nationwide efforts ... [continue reading]
Comments by HPC to Support the New Jersey 2019 Energy Master Plan
HPC
As leaders in the residential energy efficiency industry, the Home Performance Coalition (HPC) responded to the September 2018 request by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) to provide feedback that supports the state's development of its 2019 Energy Master Plan. [continue reading]
Advancing Home Performance Data from the Stone Age to Modern Times
Debra Little
We in home performance care about homes. Beyond providing healthy, comfortable shelter for humans, our urgent goal for homes across the globe is their transformation to zero carbon emissions. Access and visibility of home performance data is vital to this progress. [continue reading]
Why ICF Homes Are Energy Efficient
Mandy Lee
As you’re probably aware, insulated concrete forms—ICFs, for short—are one of the newest home building and renovation trends. This is due, in large part, to all of the energy efficient benefits that comes with the material. The energy efficient benefits of ICFs include: [continue reading]
Redefining Home Performance in the 21stCentury
HPC
Today, the Home Performance Coalition (HPC) calls on policymakers, industry leaders, energy program managers and contractors to redefine home energy performance to include smart technology, smart homes. In “Redefining Home Performance in the 21stCentury, How the Smart Home Could Revolutionize the Industry and Transform the Home-to-Grid Connection,” HPC asserts that America’s homes are key to revolutionizing not only consumer comfort and energy bills, but the stability and security of America’... [continue reading]
Zero-Energy Homes Are Ready for Mainstream Markets
Laurie Guevara-Stone
Zero-energy (ZE) homes—efficient homes that produce or procure as much renewable energy as they consume over the course of a year—are often marketed as luxury homes, only available to the select few that are willing to pay a significant premium to do the right thing for the environment. In keeping with this luxury perception, research shows these homes are often more comfortable and healthier than conventional homes for a variety of ... [continue reading]
Connecticut Energy Efficiency Policy Issues Get a Fast Start on the Fall Season
Joe Cullen, Director of Policy and Outreach for HPC
September has already been a busy month on two critical energy efficiency (EE) issues directly impacting home performance contractors in Connecticut. First, the United States District Court in Hartford heard oral arguments on a lawsuit to restore $145 million on Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy funds that were “swept” or taken out of EE program accounts by the Connecticut legislature in 2017. Second, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) announced a new, ... [continue reading]
Why Open Standards Matter for Home Energy Efficiency
Julie Caracino, the Director of Research and Standards at the HPC
This is the first of a new monthly series that will showcase the benefits of HPXML in scaling the home energy efficiency industry by organizations that use the data standard – software companies, utility programs, government, and contractors. Every month, the blog will feature a new writer who will describe their organization or program’s experiences with HPXML, including both the technical and business aspects of HPXML adoption and use. The goal of this ... [continue reading]
Top 10 Tips for Residential HVAC Sales People in 2018
Steve Gadsby
Selling to consumers in the residential HVAC market has changed over the last 10 years. The days of formality in a sale are fading away and consumers now are going with companies that can show the most transparency and connect better during a sale. [continue reading]
More "Buzz" from ACEEE Summer Study—The Invisible Energy Mortgages in New Homes
Jim Gunshinan for Leo Ranier, LBNL
You probably never considered the power consumption of those Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets (fondly known as GFCIs) in bathrooms, kitchens, and other residential wet spots. But Leo Rainer and his colleagues did and they measured them. He also measured hard-wired smoke alarms, Arc-Fault Circuit Interrupters (AFCIs) and a host of other devices that health and safety codes require in new homes. Ventilation fans and radon fans—which are required to run continuously--are especially high ... [continue reading]
