Comments for The Recurve Reverb | Home Energy Experts

Comment on $99 Energy Audit – Summer Weather Sale! by Tweets that mention $99 Energy Audit – Summer Weather Sale! | The Recurve Reverb | Home Energy Experts -- Topsy.com

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 19:03:18 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by matt golden, Recurve Inc. Recurve Inc said: $99 home energy audit – "Summer Weather" Sale! Lasts as long as the good weather. Details here: http://bit.ly/fsktDT [...]

Comment on Baseline Study of Home Energy Retrofit Programs by Tweets that mention Baseline Study of Home Energy Retrofit Programs | The Recurve Reverb | Home Energy Experts -- Topsy.com

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 02:04:30 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Joel Sisolak, Recurve Inc. Recurve Inc said: Report: The Current State of Home Retrofit Programs in the US – http://bit.ly/ej93Gf #energy [...]

Comment on The Most Powerful Contractor Marketing Weapon by Tweets that mention The Most Powerful Contractor Marketing Weapon | The Recurve Reverb | Home Energy Experts -- Topsy.com

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 20:24:19 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by BPI Inc., Recurve Inc. Recurve Inc said: The Most Powerful Contractor Marketing Weapon (you already own it): http://bit.ly/emAhEC [...]

Comment on The Importance of Home Energy Use by LEED Bashing, Heroic Efficiencies, Stewart Green, + Prefab Potential | LEEDdaily

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:48:29 +0000

[...] The importance of home energy use. [...]

Comment on The Importance of Home Energy Use by LEED Bashing, Heroic Efficiencies, Stewart Green, + Prefab Potential | Jetson Green

Mon, 17 Jan 2011 06:57:02 +0000

[...] The importance of home energy use. [...]

Comment on 10 Common Heating Mistakes by Shana Fong

Shana Fong — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 22:31:44 +0000

Cathy,

If your ducts are inside of your home’s conditioned space and leaking, you don’t have to worry about sealing them because they’re leaking conditioned air into your home. If your ducts are outside of the conditioned space, there is a product that can be blown through ductwork, sealing up small leaks. It’s not as effective as sealing your ducts with mastic, but also doesn’t involve ripping up any drywall. An energy auditor can use tools such as a manometer and blower door in order to determine where your ducts are located (inside or outside).

Regarding insulation vs. furnace, it’s always better to do more fundamental measures first – that is, air sealing and insulation. A super efficient furnace won’t matter if your home isn’t able to keep all that warm air in. Plus, insulation is typically the biggest bang-for-your-buck efficiency improvement you can make to your home. Give us a call if you are interested in learning more about your home through an energy audit.

Comment on 10 Common Heating Mistakes by cathy

cathy — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:33:00 +0000

All of my ductwork is in crawl space inside drywall. How can my ducts be sealed? Also, how does one decide whether to add insulation or install newer furnace when the price is about the same?

Comment on 10 Common Heating Mistakes by Abby Young

Abby Young — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 17:19:56 +0000

Another downside to the fireplace strategy – woodsmoke is very unhealthy, even inside the house. Particularly if you have people in the household with respiratory problems like asthma.

Comment on 10 Common Heating Mistakes by Moonworks Home Improvement

Moonworks Home Improvement — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 14:23:18 +0000

Thanks for creating this post. There are some great points in here. Even working in the home improvement business and being very familiar with many of these myths, I was still able to leave with a few gems.

One addition, I believe old style fireplaces are very inefficient and radiate cold (from personal experience). However, a new wood insert stove or pellet stove could be the perfect solution – energy efficient and a great alternative to fossil fuel heating (and much more romantic than snuggling near the furnace).

Comment on The Difference between Free and Paid Home Energy Audits by MLuxe – Distinctive Home Style » Blog Archive » So what is an energy audit, and why would I want one?

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 19:16:12 +0000

[...] Energy audits are a winter prep task of increasing popularity. Who wouldn’t want an energy-efficiency expert to show up, tell you where strengths and weaknesses are and what you can do about it? Consider, too, that your local energy company might even offer the audit for free (but keep in mind some of the you-get-what-you-pay-for advice offered here). [...]

Comment on Heating Costs Expected to Rise This Winter by Moonworks Home Improvement

Moonworks Home Improvement — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 13:44:20 +0000

This just confirmed my worst fears. I currently heat with oil in the Northeast and paid a hefty price last year, $1800 (that is when oil was cheap). One way I am hedging my bets this year is installing a wood stove insert (we don't sell these). Now more than ever it makes sense to tighten your home’s envelope and diversify your heating sources.

Comment on Where Does Your Money Go? by Energy Bill Breakdown — Where Does Your Money Go? | Navitas Capital

Energy Bill Breakdown — Where Does Your Money Go? | Navitas Capital — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:39:49 +0000

[...] Click here to read article [...]

Comment on Home Sick Home by Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 01:05:55 +0000

Avoidance of these home health hazards is a priority of the green building movement. A home environment with increased safety and decreased impact is better for both personal and public health.

Thanks for sharing the Sierra Club info.

Comment on Americans Don’t Know Jack About Saving Energy by Jim Bushart

Jim Bushart — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:05:07 +0000

Another expensive result from this lack of knowledge and understanding of energy conservation is the mistaken idea of the need to replace perfectly good and operable windows with multi-paned, radiant reflective window units. The return on the investment is extremely low.

Comment on Home Performance 101 – How Well Do You Know Your Home? by Daniel Bell

Daniel Bell — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:28:29 +0000

Thanks to everyone who made the Foster City Creating Energy Smart Homes event possible!

Comment on Turn More Audits into Sales: The Basics of Selling Home Performance by Adam Duke

Adam Duke — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 18:38:02 +0000

Great article, we have found the same response in Michigan. Thanks for the tips. Keep up the good work!

Comment on Lose 142 Pounds (of Carbon) a Week by Leaner Greener, Low Carbon Diet, Smaller Selling, + Energy Economy | Green Blog Media

Sun, 23 May 2010 19:01:53 +0000

[...] Going on a low carbon home diet. [...]

Comment on The Progress of PACE by Shana

Shana — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:13:36 +0000

Here are a couple of resources:

- A US map providing state-specific info on PACE programs: http://www.renewfund.com/node/159

- A list of existing PACE programs:
http://www.renewfund.com/node/234

Comment on How to Help Stop Allergies and Asthma Attacks at Home by Ted Kidd

Ted Kidd — Sat, 15 May 2010 17:20:53 +0000

Another thing is learning how to efficiently operate modern homes. When energy was cheap and equipment cheaper we used to open windows and make use of natural ventilation as a way to expell indoor air polution.

Technological advances, and greater susceptability to outdoor irritants, have cause a paradigm shift in proper and efficient operation of homes. Furnace filtration via 4-5 inch media, or better, combination electronic/media filters allow hyper cleaning of air. Energy recovery units allow super efficient continuous introduction of fresh air-which is filtered of dust and allergins before being distributed to our lungs and bookshelves. All of this is accomplished by super low consumption fans in a process that means keeping your house closed up actually saves energy (reduce dehumidification needs, etc), saves health, saves cleaning, and makes homes into the sheltering, protective, comfortable spaces we aspire to experience.

Comment on Green Basics – Dispelling the Myths by Michael Winkler

Michael Winkler — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:18:16 +0000

I oppose expanded offshore drilling, but I am extremely diligent in minimizing my share of oil consumption. My personal consumption for all travel is about 100 gallons per year. The U.S. per-capita for adults is about 800 gallons per year. If we each are going to be in a credible moral position in opposing offshore oil drilling then we are going to have to not only support a move to alternatives but also reduce our own personal consumption. Imposing the impact of our consumption on people in other parts of the world is not a moral or sustainable stance.

Comment on The Progress of PACE by Peggy Deras, CKD, CID

Peggy Deras, CKD, CID — Thu, 06 May 2010 03:12:05 +0000

How about a map of the PACE covered communities? I know about Berkeley and San Francisco…

Comment on Gov. Schwarzenegger Endorses Home Star by francis

francis — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 23:18:55 +0000

Spring is right around the corner-it’s a great time to look into all the benefits of clean and renewable geothermal energy-it sure makes a lot of sense to tap into the earth for this super efficient and sustainable answer to our energy problems.

Comment on Gov. Schwarzenegger Endorses Home Star by peter staatz

peter staatz — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:29:00 +0000

Our Sate needs a program like this to help Home Owners stay in their hones as well as small contractors stay busy! More homes filled means a better tax base for schools! I would suggest looking at the fact state parks and others have taken TOO MUCH public land off the private tax base grid,this has happened to such a degree as to impoverish Del Norte County & Closing parks deepens the problem( not to mention the threat of getting rid of good green power like dams (instead of dealing w/over population of penipeds & a need for a hatchery down river!

Comment on Insulation is sexy, says Obama by Carlos Colombani

Carlos Colombani — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 21:59:49 +0000

Solar energy is a fantastic thing.
There are a few step to put you in the rigth track prior to it.
Like knowing when your energy company is producing energy
for your neighborhood.
In wich billing tier you are?
Is your family energy usage appropiate?
Lets be sexy an kill some watts to save a dollar.

Comment on An Illuminating Statistic on Fuel by Jeff Meyer

Jeff Meyer — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:36:38 +0000

Maybe the above 13% statistic statistic applies to the generation of electricity using fossil fuels? … If my natural gas furnace and/or water heater are condensing type, am I not converting more consumed energy to “usable output?”

Comment on Helpful Seasonal Home Maintenance Calendar by Jeff Meyer

Jeff Meyer — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:02:48 +0000

I am surprised that these sort of reminder calendars don’t mention inspecting/replacing the home water heater anode. I realize it is an advanced task possibly requiring a professional, but once a home owner replaces their old water heater with a higher efficiency, tank-type unit they can greatly extend its life and avoid water damage by the inspection/replacement of the sacrificial anode.

Example of a place to learn more, but there are many sources of sound information:
http://www.waterheaterrescue.com/pages/WHRpages/English/Longevity/water-heater-anodes.html

Comment on Helpful Seasonal Home Maintenance Calendar by Len Lattanzi

Len Lattanzi — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 08:19:15 +0000

How about publishing a calendar with these reminders?
like those at http://www.apple.com/downloads/macosx/calendars/

Comment on Green building trends in 2009 by Adam

Adam — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 19:29:02 +0000

That’s great! How many homes did you retrofit last year? How much did you reduce energy demand, CO2e? I’d be interested to hear those numbers, and as the most visible of the Bay Area’s auditors/remodellers, I’m sure others would too.

Comment on Green building trends in 2009 by Mark

Mark — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 19:06:08 +0000

Great post! Here’s hoping 2010 will be an even better year for green building.

Comment on Insulation is sexy, says Obama by Tracy

Tracy — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:37:17 +0000

It’s great that Obama is showing so much support for energy efficiency. Solar may be a flashy status symbol, but like he said, saving money is very sexy!

Comment on Mayor Newsom announces San Francisco Sustainable Financing for Green Retrofits by Mike L.

Mike L. — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:07:46 +0000

This is a huge step forward for the city of San Francisco to meet its energy and climate goals. Attaching the loan to your property is a great idea.

Comment on Asthma linked to formaldehyde exposure at home by Shana

Shana — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:52:06 +0000

There are a few different types of air quality tests that you can have done. A more general test that we perform for clients that suspect they have indoor air quality issues involves plugging in a special monitor in their home for around 5 days, which measures levels of allergen particulates, volatile organic compounds (which formaldehyde would fall under), carbon monoxide, and more. The drawback of this test is that it does not distinguish down to a level of specifying which VOCs or particulates are present – just what the levels are compared to the normal, acceptable amount.

For a more detailed examination of your home’s air quality, we have taken air samples and sent them to a testing lab, which can then determine exactly what is in the air. This is particularly helpful if you are looking for specific pollutants, such as formaldehyde.

Many people don’t realize the extent to which their home can make them sick or trigger symptoms of asthma and allergies. It’s important to know how healthy the air in your home is and where it’s coming from, especially if you have little ones.

Comment on Asthma linked to formaldehyde exposure at home by Matt Coapman

Matt Coapman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 01:51:08 +0000

Thank you for the heads up on this. I’m curious to know some of the long term health issues related to exposure ? Some seem obvious, but it is mind blowing to know what we are surrounding ourselves with in the homes we live.

Is there a test to check formaldehyde levels in the air of our home?

Comment on Top 5 Green Tips for your Home by Jeremy

Jeremy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:54:12 +0000

Amount of energy used while items are unplugged is astonishing! Just imagine if every electrical item in our homes had better built in power management, how much energy would be saved…