Spotlight Article:
Ventilation and IAQ in New California Homes
Starting in the mid-2000s, the California Energy Commission funded several research studies (for example, Price, et al., 2007, and Offermann, 2009) that aimed to evaluate the potential indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts associated with envelope air ...
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Is That House an Air Filter?
Residential building envelopes can act as particle filters - but to what extent? [continue reading]
Testing Duct Testers
According to DOE’s Building America program data, typical residential ductwork efficiency is about 67%. That means that if you install a 90% efficient furnace, your system efficiency would be just over 60%. Another way to look ... [continue reading]
Safe Air at Home
At Pure Energy, we are finding more and more IAQ problems caused by pollutants that are supposed to be outside the living space, but are being drawn into the living space by unbalanced house pressures. [continue reading]
Carbon Monoxide Around the House: Comparing Ambient CO Monitors
Carbon monoxide (CO) is really nasty stuff. It’s odorless, colorless, and neutrally buoyant, and it can make you stupid before it kills you. It’s not the kind of stuff you want ... [continue reading]
Integrating Energy Efficiency and Healthy Homes
Why unhealthy homes cause unhealthy occupants. [continue reading]
Indoor Environmental Quality Daydreams and Nightmares
Building performance renovation contractors and Weatherization Assistance program workers daydream of making homes healthy, comfortable, energy efficient, and durable. But sometimes when they are in the middle of a project, they find their dreams have ... [continue reading]
Combustible-Gas Leak Detectors
You may have heard of houses and neighborhoods exploding due to gas leaks in old pipes under the streets. Inside the home, detecting combustible-gas leaks is an important part of combustion safety testing. Gas connections ... [continue reading]
The SCARY Crawl Space
BPI CE
We build crawl spaces because they are cheaper than basements. But controlling moisture can be a challenge, depending on the climate zone. [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.
