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 […]
Building and Duct Leakage Tests
March 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Testing for air leakage: The first step in any energy retrofit job Air sealing (reducing the leakage of the home) is the #1 way to conserve energy in a home. Air sealing work should be prioritized and air sealing progress should be monitored. However, you can’t completely seal up a home without also supplying controlled […]
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 […]
PACE Loans for Energy Upgrades
October 28, 2014 by Leave a Comment
PACE stands for Property Assessed Clean Energy The PACE Loan program offers financing for large-scale energy and water efficiency upgrades. Property owners can receive 100% financing for these upgrades, repaid as a property tax assessment for up to 25 years. The interest portion of the payment can be tax deductible. Energy efficiency improvements work best as whole-house […]
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 […]
Energy Efficient Lighting
August 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
You might be surprised how much energy you can save on lighting! Lights can use quite a bit of power, especially inefficient, high wattage bulbs like halogen and incandescent. Also, even though these bulbs are cheaper, they burn out much faster and emit more heat. So let’s look at the better alternatives. LED (Light-Emitting Diode) […]
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 […]
10 Summer Energy Saving Tips from Eco Performance Builders
May 24, 2014 by Leave a Comment
1. Schedule an energy assessment This is the first step in improving your overall home performance. A technician will test your home and build an energy model of the home and a report of all the findings. From there they will recommend cost-effective upgrades, show you how to turn your home into a net-zero energy […]
Home Energy Efficiency – More room for improvement than cars?
May 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Which uses more energy, houses or cars? When people think pollution, and resource consumption, they usually think of cars first. As it turns out, total energy consumption in the US is about 30% more for homes than it is for cars. And the average home’s energy demands cause more than twice as much carbon dioxide […]
Cool Roofs Cost-Effectiveness and Environmental Impact
April 29, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Are cool roofs cost-effective? The short answer is maybe, in warmer climates. Cool roofs are ideal for large, single-story, low-slope or flat roof buildings in hot climates. Commercial buildings are generally the best candidate for this, but residential buildings can benefit too. To find out if a cool roof will be cost-effective for your home […]
