If there’s nothing wrong with your air conditioner, but your electricity bill seems too high during those hot months, you may want to schedule an energy audit. During this process, we will thoroughly evaluate the energy efficiency of your house, and recommend the most cost-effective combination of upgrades. If you’re deciding whether to repair or […]
Top 5 Water Saving Upgrades and Fixes
June 2, 2015 by Leave a Comment
1. On-Demand Water Circulation: A must-have for water conservation Demand Recirculation Systems are a great way to save water and energy, especially if you have remotely placed water fixtures. They are easy to install and can fit into nearly any plumbing setup. 2. Greywater Systems: Consider during new builds, or when remodeling a bathroom “Greywater” […]
Demand Recirculation: How to Conserve Water at Home
May 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Conventional plumbing systems waste water. You turn on the faucet and wait until the water gets hot. During that time, cold water is being wasted and dumped down the drain. Needless to say, wasting water is bad, especially right now in California. If you’re unaware of the severity of the drought, here’s an article every Californian should read. […]
2014 Contractor of the Year – Energy Upgrade California!
March 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Our second Contractor of the Year Award for 2014 is the prestigious Energy Upgrade California (EUC) “Contractor of the Year” award. We are sincerely honored to receive this award. There are over 250 contractors in the EUC program; to be recognized as the best is AWESOME!. We are grateful to be given the opportunity to […]
ZNE Home With Guaranteed $0 Energy Bills — Built and Sold by EPB
March 11, 2015 by 1 Comment
We have completed and sold our ZNE (Zero Net Energy) build in the Montclair Hills. We are very excited about this build because it is the culmination of everything we have learned from decades of building and retrofitting homes. We have put our heart and soul into it and made it the best performing, […]
When are Mini-Split Systems the Right Choice?
February 4, 2015 by 1 Comment
How It Works Mini-Split systems use heat pump technology. Basically, heat pumps combine an evaporator and a condenser, using puron refrigerant and phase change to provide heating and cooling. They are essentially a high efficiency air conditioner that can also run in reverse to heat the home. The condenser is usually located outdoors. It distributes […]
Deep Energy Retrofits – 12 Steps
December 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Let’s face it, some homes need a lot of work. In the 20th century, the majority of homes were built with little consideration for efficiency, air quality, or longevity. Now that we’re facing more serious economic, environmental, and energy issues, we need to start doing things differently. But new, efficient homes are not being built fast enough […]
Home Performance Contractor of the Year Award – Eco Performance Builders
December 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
“We are excited and proud to say that Eco Performance Builders has received the Build-it-Green Home Performance Contractor of the Year award! It is very hard work but so very satisfying. We are now even more motivated to help folks reduce energy consumption, reduce residential energy’s impact on the environment, make homes comfortable, increase air […]
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality- How, and Why
December 2, 2014 by Leave a Comment
[dropshadowbox align=”none” effect=”lifted-both” width=”640px” height=”” background_color=”#ffffff” border_width=”1″ border_color=”#dddddd” ]The following contains information on what affects indoor air quality, and the steps you can take to improve it. If you already know you want to improve it, or you just want a technician to come have a look, call (925) 363-4498 or e-mail info@epbuilders.com[/dropshadowbox] Air contaminants […]
Benefits of Crawl Space Encapsulation (Sealing)
October 6, 2014 by 1 Comment
Should I Seal My Crawl Space? Water can cause major problems if ignored and left to build up in a crawl space, or anywhere else in a building, for that matter. This is why, here at EPB, we like to do full crawl space encapsulations, using vapor barriers. We recommend this for anyone who has […]
Energy Upgrade California Rebate Program Changes
September 18, 2014 by Leave a Comment
In August 2014, the Energy Upgrade California (EUC) rebate program made two major changes. THE GOOD NEWS: The rebate now has a higher maximum amount, part of which is a direct result of actual energy savings. The potential rebate now ranges from $1000-$6500, whereas previously it was capped at $4500. We use energy modeling software […]
HRV or ERV? Choose the Right Ventilation System
July 19, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Tight homes need mechanical ventilation First off, what is a “tight” home? This refers to any building that is either intentionally and thoroughly air sealed, or just very well constructed to the point that it leaks minimall. In other words, there are very few gaps between framing and drywall, between framing and framing, leaky penetrations, […]
Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Homes – Zero Electric Bill
July 9, 2014 by 1 Comment
ZNE stands for Zero Net Energy This refers to a home that (a) has solar power (or another significant renewable source of energy), and (b) is so efficiently designed, sealed, and insulated, that it produces as much power as it uses. Yes, a ZNE home has no energy bill. You may have never heard of […]
Invest in Solar PV – Sell power back to the grid
June 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Is Solar PV worth the investment? Many homeowners think of solar power as a huge investment, that they’ll never be able to afford. Indeed, historically, solar power has been out of reach for most, and even those who could afford it saw very slow pay-offs. But here we are in 2014, and we find that […]
The Heat Pump Alternative
June 3, 2014 by 2 Comments
Heat pumps are an all-electric heating/cooling alternative to gas powered heating and standard air conditioning. When done right, they can be very efficient. With increasing demand for eco-friendly, efficient homes, heat pumps are now, without a doubt, the future of HVAC technology. How they work Basically, heat pumps use electricity to transfer heat. They can […]
