We are building a ZNE (Zero Net Energy) home to sell in the Oakland Hills and Sun Light & Power is going to provide the PV (photo voltaic) power system! We have worked with Sun Light & Power for years and they are the most respected, intelligent, highest quality installer around. Together we were able […]
Sun Light & Power and Eco Performance Builders team up for a Zero Net Energy Home
May 20, 2014 by 1 Comment
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 […]
On-Demand Hot Water Recirculation Systems
April 25, 2014 by 2 Comments
A standard hot water recirculation pump, often designed to recirculate water 24/7, can cost you hundreds of dollars per year in wasted electricity, natural gas or propane. To give you an idea of how much heat is lost, we see the temperature dropping by up to 20 degrees by the time it gets back to […]
Market Value of Energy Efficient Homes
April 13, 2014 by 1 Comment
Can I sell my “Green” energy Efficient Home for more??? – Absolutely, if done right. Financial incentives, rising utility prices, and increased public awareness of the need for energy conservation have opened up the market for energy efficient homes. Everyone would like an energy efficient home and now more than ever it is not […]
Wall Insulation Installation video – Net Zero Energy
April 2, 2014 by 1 Comment
Wet blown-in cellulose wall insulation installation on our new net zero energy construction project in the Oakland hills!! Video on the initial installation process: It’s 2×6 framing (so you can fit a lot in the walls), has a high R value per inch, makes perfect contact with the drywall, is long lasting and resistant to […]
Pool Pumps and your Electricity Bill
March 29, 2014 by 1 Comment
How much electricity does my pool pump use? In homes with pools, the pool pump is, on average, the 2nd most power hungry appliance after the air conditioner. An inefficient pool pump might use around 2,500 KWh per year, maybe more for bigger pools. To give some perspective: the average u.s. residential utility customer uses […]
Home Energy Retrofit: The Whole-House Approach
March 11, 2014 by 1 Comment
Home energy efficiency is best achieved by a “whole-house” approach, rather than a piecemeal one. Everything in your home is interconnected. When you change something, it affects other things as well. Air follows the path of least resistance, and hot air rises. Thus, for example, if you seal up your doors and windows, but you […]
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 […]
Top 10 Contractor Mistakes
May 30, 2013 by Leave a Comment
What are the top 10 Contractor mistakes common in the Home Energy industry? Everyone knows the HVAC industry’s reputation. HVAC service people have been known to suggest a replacement for a part that is working fine. They’ve even been known to tell a homeowner they need a new part that doesn’t even exist! They are […]
Do It Yourself Home Energy Audit: A One Stop Guide
April 9, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Do It Yourself – Home Energy Audit What is a Residential Energy Audit? (often more positively termed: Energy Assessment) An Energy Audit is a way to use Building Science and Home Performance concepts to perform a comprehensive in-depth testing of a home in order to find out where the energy concerns are, how to […]
Loans for Energy Efficiency Upgrades
March 7, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Loans for Energy Efficiency Upgrades Geosmart Loan (Loan option #1) California has been hit hard by the mortgage and credit crisis, and energy prices are reaching record highs, making it difficult for homeowners to invest in energy efficiency upgrades. However, qualifying for a loan for energy efficiency upgrades is easy. EGIA (Electric & Gas […]
Energy Upgrade Rebates
February 4, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Energy Upgrade California Rebates Explained (as of 2013) Upgrading your home is an investment, and it’s a difficult one to predict or quantify. However with the right upgrade package, you can greatly increase and speed up the return on your investment, by qualifying for energyupgrade rebates through the EUC […]
What is Home Performance?
February 4, 2013 by 1 Comment
What is Home Performance? Home performance is a comprehensive, whole-house approach to identifying and fixing comfort, energy efficiency, air quality and durability problems in a home. The goal is to identify and prioritize these issues with a home energy audit then find a home performance contractor to address the energy concerns. An energy audit technician […]
Home Performance Success Story – Eco Performance Builders
December 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Bay Area Home Performance – Renovation Success Story In August of 2012, Eco Performance Builders successfully renovated a house (1239 College Avenue, Alameda) and turned it into one of the most Energy Efficient homes in the Bay Area. Using the highest standards of Home Performance and Green Building, the project was a major success and […]
