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What is Home Performance, why do it and how to get up to $3,500 from Energy Upgrade California

1The collective group of energy efficiency measures that work together to make a home or building a complete and energy efficient system, and by following a general loading order, the results far surpass performing individual measures done alone.

What is Whole Home Performance?The average American duct system leaks 1/3 of the air that moves through it. Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryThe average American house leaks enough air to fill the Goodyear blimp, twice. Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryIn general, most old houses leak like sieves and have a lot of room for comfort improvement via air sealing or draft proofing.Ducts & Leakiness of HousesUsually dumb stuffI almost always find health and safety issues, problems like broken-apart ducts. Dead rats in the crawl space, improperly venting water heaters, building cavities used as plenums, gasoline stored next to hot water heaters.That and lots of obsolete equipment, poorly or uninsulated, degraded systems.Often, part of air enclosure is missing so air escapesWhat does an Energy Audit Reveal?

Air leaks out, insulations settle over time = energy lossEnergy Retrofit: Infrared Before and AfterHeat loss in bright yellowHeat loss minimized

Heat loss into unfinished attic

Air leaks past circuit breaker panel in wall cavity

Voids in Insulation. Fiberglass usually installed on a $/square foot basis

Header area not properly insulated

Air leaks in around attic hatch (often just a square of drywall) w/ no seal

Extremely common air leaks in ceiling fixtures

Contractor forgot to finish insulating pipes, no one noticedMusty SmellsFoggy windowsPeeling PaintAsthma & AllergiesMold GrowthFluctuating TemperaturesHeating/Cooling cycles on/off frequentlyHigh Utility Bills

Common Energy Related Problems or Sick house symptomsVisual Inspection from outside to crawl to atticBlower door test to establish leakinessDuct leak test to see how much air leaksCombustion appliance worst case depressurization scenario Infrared scan to see anomalies in insulationInput data into Energy Pro to establish baseline efficiency level and do what if scenarios to find best menu of improvements.Our Home Energy Test ProceduresTest to Find heat loss and air leaks & Seal leaks, insulate areas of heat lossReplace obsolete equipment with efficient unitsAdd ventilation. Best case is heat recovery ventilation system and engineered duct systemsWhat an Energy Retrofit DoesThe following are examples of remedied homes

Before/After Retrofit Retrofit Before and AfterDrafty, uncomfortable, Cozy & low cost E bills

Before Attic: Heat loss in joists and duct work + air leakage

After: Blown-in cellulose w buried ducts. Minimal heat loss

Rim Joists: Foamed and Sealed

Top Plate Sealed and Properly Vented

Crawlspace Retrofit: Clean & Air Sealed

Crawlspace before: With moistureIf you have newts or salamandars living in your air supply there is a problem

If California Golden Spotted Newts are living in your crawlspace Something is wrong. Time to dry out your crawlspace.25

27The problem:Wet wood is foodModern houses have reduced drying capacity and greater and reduced storing capacity for moisture*Solution: Keep houses dry. Use drainage planes on walls, keep water away from foundation/crawlspace. Control moisture on inside with proper ventilation.*

*Joe Lstriburek, Building Science Corp.MoldBlack MoldCosmetic Black moldWood rotting black mold

Crawl Space After: Clean and Dry

CEC: State Government Energy commission that created this $100 million umbrella program. CBPCA: administers program, created by BKIPG&E: writes the checks after work is done and retested by CBPCA WHPP: What PG&E calls their part of the programBPI: certifies the contractors in programCPUC: oversees PG&EHER: Home Energy Retrofit, Inc. Contractor ARRA: American Recovery funds part of pjct.California Cities and Counties are also involved and offer own incentives to home ownersFBI, CIA, BBC and B.B. King: not yet involved

EUC an Umbrella of Alphabet Soup

Comprehensive home retrofits following proper loading orderAir sealing (tighten envelope)Insulation (thermal boundary)Proper sizing, design and installation of HVAC systemsProper sizing, design and installation of the hot water systemEfficient lighting, appliances and demand responseRenewable energy and self generation

Whole House ProgramStatewide Goal: Achieve 20% energy savings in 130,000 homes by end of 2012PG&E Goal:Achieve 20% energy savings in 15,500 homes by end of 2012Provide at least 25 Program Overview Training Courses across service territoryAchieve necessary contractor enrollment (at least 35 companies/firms)

Program Goals35I.PrescriptiveFocus on building shellNo diagnostic audit requiredOn ramp for home performance contractorsII.PerformanceRequires diagnostic auditComprehensive scope of workLarger incentives and savings

Two WaysHealth Interior Air Quality, IAQDurability Keeping frame house dry through ventilation and thoughtful insulation strategiesSafety- Rotten floors not safe to walk on.

Keep these out home air - mold, mildew, dust, spores, excretia rodentia, rat poisons, dry rot fungicides, glass fibers, asbestos, lead, allergens, radon, insects, dust mitesNon-Energy Benefits of energy science bases home improvementsA: Your local participating contractor:Home Energy Retrofit, Inc. Lic. #673461george@homeenergyretrofit510 520 4443Q: With all these players, where do I start?Conclusions: Question and Answer