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, […]
Duct Leakage – An HVAC Epidemic!
March 25, 2014 by Leave a Comment
What is Duct Leakage? Duct leakage can be defined as a percentage, or a surface area value. The percentage rating is determined by the ratio of a home’s calculated leakage rate vs its air handler flow rate. The surface area value is useful for visualizing the total area that is leaking, and estimating the amount […]
Eco Performance Builders is Building a Zero Net Energy Home in Oakland
December 22, 2013 by 2 Comments
Eco Performance Builders is building a new Zero Net Energy home in the Oakland Hills and we are really excited about it. What is a Zero Net Energy (ZNE) home? Well, in this case it is a home that won’t have utility charged electricity or gas. How are we going to do this? We will […]
Home Moisture Problems and Solutions
May 30, 2013 by 1 Comment
Home Moisture Problems – Sources, Issues and Solutions Even in California’s dry climate there are many homes with high humidity and moisture problems. This moisture could be coming from any number of sources and causing issues ranging from slight discomfort to musty smells to mold/mildew to indoor air quality concerns. This article will explain where […]
Indoor Air Quality
April 9, 2013 by 1 Comment
Indoor Air Quality: Test it and Improve it Considering the amount of time we spend in our homes, and that we are generally breathing the whole time, it’s a good idea to ensure that our air is clean and healthy. There are a number of factors that can affect indoor air quality, some of […]
Bathroom Fan Exhaust Frustrations
January 22, 2012 by 1 Comment
Keith Common problems with bathroom fans: It is a frustrating job going into house after house only to find the same issues. The main issues we find are excessive duct leakage (normally 30%), large building leakage, poorly installed insulation, undersized duct systems, oversized heating and cooling equipment, crawlspace moisture issues, and poorly installed ventilation equipment. […]
