Spotlight Article:
A/C in the Southeast, Part 2: The Best Way to Cool Homes in Humid Climates?
Fix the Home First
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Saving Energy with Reflective Roofs
In 11 Florida homes with roofs coated with a white material during midsummer, average air conditioning energy use decreased by 8 kWh/day, or 19%. [continue reading]
Efficient Cooling: Making It Happen
As part of its efforts to promote energy-efficient residential HVAC systems, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) looked into air conditioner sizing. [continue reading]
Homeowners: Who Will Demand Rightsizing?
Along with conducting detailed load calculations of 40 Sacramento homes, we asked homeowners to complete a brief survey. [continue reading]
Home, Home on the Range Hood
Exhausting heat and moisture in the summer can keep a house cooler and reduce air conditioning costs. And running a fan whenever someone is cooking will eliminate most water vapor, grease, and combustion products from the kitchen. [continue reading]
Thermostats That Feel the Heat
Most American thermostats measure only air temperature. But there are numerous other elements that affect thermal comfort, and some of these can be used to turn HVAC equipment on and off. [continue reading]
When Wall Insulation Doesn't Save
Wall insulation clearly saves heating energy, but does it save cooling energy as well? [continue reading]
Conditioned Attics Save Energy in Hot Climates
Do homes with vented attics use less cooling energy than homes with unvented, conditioned attics in hot climates? With little formal research available to answer the question, common wisdom and most building codes have favored venting. [continue reading]
Two-Stage Evaporative Cooling
Depending on the design, an evaporative cooler can use as little as 10% of the energy consumed by refrigeration air conditioning systems. [continue reading]
Building Performance Journal Editors
Our Blog Has Moved
Thanks for your interest in contributing a blog to the Building Performance Journal (formerly Home Energy magazine). We’re ...
Jim Gunshinan
Is Energy Efficiency an American Value?
Energy efficiency is good for the economy, good for families, good for workers, and good for the environment.
