**Update as of 4/29/20** Construction work is now allowed, in full, provided guidelines and practices on social distancing are maintained. We continue to maintain these practices as further described below** Currently, the heating and ventilation portion of projects are what we’re focusing on and postponing any non-essential insulation services until our bay area governments lift […]
Coronavirus and Work on Your Home
March 10, 2020 by Leave a Comment
At Eco Performance Builders, we’re taking the Coronavirus situation seriously. We don’t want you or our people getting sick. If you are sick or think you may have been infected, please tell us about it immediately so we can keep our people safe. As for us, here are the actions we’re taking to make sure […]
Who Makes the Best Heat Pump?
August 26, 2019 by 4 Comments
Who makes the best heat pump to install in your home? Good question. The correct answer is, it depends. We’ve installed hundreds of heat pumps in the SF Bay Area and we’ve measured the results from all of our installations. For a ducted system, which is the most popular and best option for most homes […]
Forum on Dry Climate Home Performance Presentations
March 3, 2019 by Leave a Comment
We were honored to do two presentations at the Dry Climate Forum in Yosemite a few weeks ago. We shared our data on all electric fuel switching in the bay area and our measured wall insulation techniques. This forum is where it’s at for increasing knowledge and quality within the home performance industry. Some of […]
EPB North Bay Fire Relief Fund Matching Donation Campaign
October 18, 2017 by Leave a Comment
North Bay Fire Relief Matching Donation Campaign. Eco Performance Builders set up a $2,500 matching donation campaign for the fire victims. All donations go to the North Bay Fire Relief through the Redwood Credit Union and 100% go to the victims of the fire. We will match every dollar raised up to $2,500. Everyday we […]
Need a New Cooling System? Consider a Heat Pump (Seriously)
June 11, 2017 by 2 Comments
What is a Heat Pump? You may have seen the term on various devices including the indoors part of your central air conditioning system, near the furnace. It’s been used a bit too freely, and it’s confusing. Let’s clarify: for the purposes of this article, a “heat pump” is a device that uses a reversible […]
ZNE – Guaranteed Zero Energy Bill Home Completed and For Sale
May 20, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Zero Energy Bill? That’s right! We are so confident in our new home build in the Oakland Hills that we are guaranteeing zero energy bills. In fact, if there are any energy bills, we will pay them for the first three years! So how can we do that? High performance all electric design, perfect […]
Air Quality in California Homes
March 24, 2017 by Leave a Comment
Facts about air quality that may surprise you In general, indoor air quality is worse than outdoor air quality Ambient air pollution is related to 130,000 deaths per year in the United States The 7 most polluted cities in the country (based on year-round particle pollution) are all in California! (source) So, we know there’s a problem. But […]
How to Choose the Right Furnace
August 4, 2016 by 1 Comment
When a furnace or air conditioner is installed in a building, it becomes a part of a system. The device’s actual performance – regardless of whatever ratings it boasts – will depend almost entirely on how it interacts with that system. With that in mind, here are the three most important factors to consider when purchasing an HVAC […]
LED Lighting – Cool, Easy, Efficient
June 21, 2016 by 1 Comment
If your home is getting too warm this year, you may be thinking about cooling upgrades. Here’s a tip: don’t immediately jump to conclusions about your AC unit, as this can lead to many burnt bridges if done incorrectly (see near the bottom of this article). Instead, start with some small, non-invasive upgrades and go from there. Consider an […]
Should I Get an Energy Audit?
April 12, 2016 by Leave a Comment
Short answer: If you own a home, then yes, you should get an energy audit. Longer answer: Let me ask you a few questions. Is your home too cold in the winter? Too hot in the summer? Are temperatures uneven from room to room? Is your energy bill high? (Specifically, your heating/cooling costs) Do you have concerns […]
2015 Highest Energy Saver Award
March 18, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We at Eco Performance Builders are proud to announce that we have won the 2015 Highest Energy Saver Award! This award, granted by PG&E’s Home Upgrade program, signifies that during 2015 we achieved the highest average energy savings for home performance retrofit projects performed by contractors in the PG&E area. The statistics for the award are based on […]
Meeting the Demands of the Grid
February 19, 2016 by Leave a Comment
One of the toughest challenges in the energy business today is that of peak-hours electricity demand. We’ve all experienced or at least heard about the rolling blackouts, and the increased price of electricity used during peak hours (or “time-of-use” rates). On the surface, it’s a simple matter of not having enough power output to meet […]
Air Sealing and Indoor Air Quality
February 3, 2016 by Leave a Comment
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Air Sealing a home’s points of leakage is the first step in making a home efficient. But, you might ask, what about making the home comfortable and healthy? It turns out that air sealing is essential for air quality as well. Here’s why. Indoor Air Quality When […]
