Join us at ACI!

by Shana Fong on March 11, 2011
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We’re less than three weeks away from ACI National Home Performance Conference, our industry’s biggest event. If you were at the conference last year in Austin and went to our opening night party (complete with Wild West entertainment), you already know just how fun this conference can be. Oh, and there will also be plenty of learning opportunities too.

Recurve is all over ACI again this year. Here are the sessions and other places you can catch us at. We would love to talk to you!

TUESDAY MARCH 29

Home Energy Summit

8:30am-10:00am
Engaging Markets and Private Capital To Achieve Our Long-Term Goals
Matt Golden, Recurve’s President and Founder, will be kicking off the second day of the Home Energy Summit, which includes heavy hitters such as Katherine Hogan of the DOE, Dian Gruenich formerly of the CPUC, and Commissioner Karen Douglas of the CEC.

2:45pm – 4:00pm
Breakout Session: Effects of Program Design on Delivery by Contractors
Adam Winter, SVP and cofounder of Recurve, will be co-leading a breakout session along with folks from WellHome, Distinct ENERGY Performance, and more.

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WEDNESDAY MARCH 30

1:30pm-3:00pm

Beyond Your Certification
Matt Golden will be helping session attendees plan a successful business strategy post-BPI certification. Joining him will be Tiger Adolf of BPI, Courtney Moriarta of WellHome, and Sam Flanery of Michigan Energy Savings.

3:30pm – 5:00pm

Optimization of Performance Financing Through Innovation
Another appearance by Matt Golden, this time alongside Sammy Chu of Long Island Green Homes and Dan Kartzman of Powersmith, to speak about LIGH program’s integration with Recurve Software and Powersmith home energy upgrades as an example of program design success.

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THURSDAY MARCH 31

10:30am – 12:00pm

Energy Upgrade CA: Game Plan for Market Transformation
Another breakout that Matt Golden is participating in, this time teaching attendees about how the Energy Upgrade California program is leveraging federal stimulus dollars to grow the building performance industry and create jobs, while addressing the typical challenges that programs face. He’ll be joined by Leif Magnuson of the EPA and several others directly involved in the program.

1:30pm – 3:00pm – in the foyer of the exhibit hall
Join Chris McClellan, Sales Manager at Recurve, for an in-depth demo of Recurve Software. He’ll show you how Recurve Software helps you do more energy audits every week, generate accurate savings predictions, and present polished reports and proposals on-site. At the end of the demo, he’ll also be giving away a tablet to one lucky winner! So be sure to visit us on the tradeshow floor at booth 601 to sign up for a free trial of Recurve Software and enter the contest.

3:30pm – 5:00pm (a very busy timeslot for us!)

National Policy Update
Yet another session with – you guessed it – Matt Golden! Get an update on current national and state trends in public policy, including HOME STAR, utility data access, ARRA funded programs and California state financing recommendations for programs in wake of PACE. The session will also cover how contractors can get involved in upcoming program opportunities. Other presenters include Stephen Cowell of CSG,, Rick Gerardi of WellHome, and Kara Saul-Rinaldi of the National Home Performance Council.

A Hard Look at Software: The End Users’ Perspective (Panel)
Chris McClellan will be discussing how software can help you streamline your business operations while increasing sales and improving quality of service through real-life examples of how users have successfully integrated various software solutions into their day-to-day operations. Chris will be joined by Skye Dunning of Building Performance Specialists and Elise Brown of Evergreen Home Performance.

Selling Home Performance: Where Mastic Meets the Sheet Metal
Jason Bowers, Recurve Local Operations General Manager, will be teaching contractors how to increase close rates and sell larger work scopes, along with Casey Murphy of ICF International and Eric Howarth of EGIA.

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Don’t forget to come visit us for a software demo, to enter our contest (we’re giving away THREE tablets!) or just to say hello on Wednesday & Thursday during the tradeshow hours. We’ll be holding down Booth 601.

How software can help contractors doing energy efficiency, HVAC, and more

by Shana Fong on March 2, 2011
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As featured in Green Building Journal, Matt Golden, President and Founder of Recurve Inc., discusses the role that software plays in the contracting profession, and how professionals today need targeted applications. Software solutions lead to a variety of benefits including reduced audit times, reduced costs for customers, and an increase in accessibility among professionals.

The key to home performance he says is a holistic approach to the problem. Software applications today need to be flexible enough to appeal to all types of business, ranging from the small-scale insulation jobs to high-end retrofits. In the end he is optimistic about the direction the trades are heading, and offers up advice to professionals looking to take the plunge into software.

Review: The Metlund Hot Water D’MAND System

by Adam Winter on August 17, 2010
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Cold water that goes down the drain while your customers are waiting for hot water to reach sinks and showerheads is like money flowing through their fingers. Here’s a relatively simple and affordable fix that can help most American homeowners save thousands of gallons of water every year – and take a slice off their energy bills to boot:

The Metlund Hot Water D’MAND System
http://www.gothotwater.com

  • A fast on-demand recirculation pump diverts ambient-temperature water in hot water pipes back to the water heater until hot water reaches the tap.
  • Water moves more rapidly from the hot water heater to the point of use, so your customers won’t have to wait long for a hot shower.
  • D’MAND pumps may be activated by wired-in buttons, motion sensors or wireless remotes.
  • Can use the existing cold water line as a return line, so special plumbing is not required for retrofits.
  • Less heat radiates from water pipes than with timed or continuous recirculation systems, potentially saving homeowners $50 to $300 a year in energy costs alone.
  • Can extend water heater life by enabling lower thermostat settings and reducing sedimentation in the bottom of the hot water tank.
  • Unlike timed or continuous recirculation systems, D’MAND does not void most tankless water heater warranties (check with the heater manufacturer to confirm)
  • D’MAND pumps are available in retrofit and new construction models.
  • Multiple pumps may be required in homes with complicated plumbing loops or additions.

According to Metlund’s own calculations, a typical household that saves 20 gallons of water a day by installing a D’MAND system would save anywhere from $151 to $242 a year in water, sewer and energy costs (depending on the type of hot water heater). For every year of its 15-year lifespan, the system would take a 7,300-gallon load off of local water and wastewater treatment systems, and prevent about a ton of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.

Our take: On-demand recirculation pumps can be somewhat less convenient for homeowners than timed or continuous pumps, but Metlund’s system provides a highly effective and economical solution to water waste for homeowners who use it properly. Just be sure to educate your customers and set appropriate expectations before installing.

Note: Recurve does not endorse this or any other product. We encourage qualified Home Performance contractors to gain hands-on experience with products profiled in this newsletter before making their own assessments.

Review: The Vertex 100 – An Efficient, Hydronics-Ready Water Heater

by Adam Winter on July 8, 2010
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President Obama has told us that insulation is sexy—but what about water heaters? If you’d like to add an efficient, hydronics-ready water heater to the mix of products your shop sells and supports, check out this hot performer:

The Vertex 100 from Tennessee-based A.O. Smith Water Products
http://www.hotwater.com/products/residential/rg-vertex100.html

  • 96% thermal efficiency
  • True sealed combustion for greater efficiency and safety
  • Accurate, easy-to-use digital controls
  • Higher output for combined hydronics
  • Side taps for combined hydronics
  • Significantly quieter than competing 90% efficient water heaters
  • Significantly less expensive than competing 90%+ water heaters with stainless steel tanks
  • Provides a nice mix of 50 gallons of hot water storage and 100,000 BTU/h of burner power, thereby reducing standby losses incurred with very large tanks and natural draft flues
  • Accommodates high hot water demands without requiring a high-capacity gas line to supply 250,000 BTU/h as is typical of tankless water heaters

Our take: This is a great product for the price point, efficiency level and footprint.

Note: Recurve does not endorse this or any other product. We encourage qualified Home Performance contractors to gain hands-on experience with products profiled in this newsletter before making their own assessments.