Collapsed Glass Syndrome I was recently visiting my brother and he pointed out a strange condensation effect he was having on some double glazed windows. Condensation formed in an oval pattern in the middle of the windows. This is really strange because condensation forms on the coldest parts of windows first. Thermal windows usually insulate [...]
Archive for the ‘Conservation’ Category
Why do I have condensation in the middle of my windows?
Posted: February 21, 2012 in Building Science, Conservation, Mold & Moisture, WindowsTags: anderson windows, collapsed glass, condensation, oval pattern, thermal windows, windows, windows condensation
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Is solar efficient enough?
Posted: February 11, 2012 in Conservation, Solar powerTags: photovoltaic, solar electric, solar electric panels, solar panels, solar panels for your home
I recently overheard a conversation that made me think. A man, who was clearly respected by his friends as someone knowledgeable, commented that solar wasn’t ready for prime time because it isn’t efficient enough. But is this true? The simple answer is “no.” Solar is plenty efficient. The solar electric panels that go on your [...]
Amory Lovins – A Pioneer and Leader of the Environmental Movement
Posted: February 5, 2012 in Conservation, DocumentariesTags: Amory Lovins, energy conservation, Rocky Mountain Institute
Lovins is one of those rare people who have spent his entire adult life studying one thing – in this case “energy.” As far back as his first year of college, before the oil embargo of the 1970′s, he’s thrown himself into the field. In this interview with Charlie Rose, Lovins frankly discusses where we [...]
Insulating Basement Crawl Spaces
Posted: February 1, 2012 in Building Science, Conservation, Construction techniques, Ducts, Energy auditing, HVAC, Insulation, Mold & Moisture, PlumbingTags: basements, crawl spaces, frozen pipes, mold
Crawlspaces – those nasty, damp, moldy spaces under your home that you dread entering. They’re one of the least understood parts of a home and the source of countless problems. In this post, I’ll review some of the worst problems and how to avoid them. Crawlspaces often have two big issues: Water / moisture – [...]
High Efficiency Outdoor and Landscape Lighting
Posted: January 21, 2012 in Conservation, LightingTags: landscape lighting, landscape lights, LED landscape lights, t-10 lights, wedge bulbs
I’m personally not a big fan of landscape lighting, because 99% of the time you don’t need it at all. As they say in the business: “the most efficient light is the light that you don’t use.” But for many, landscape lighting is a necessity. In this post, I’ll cover several ways you can reduce [...]
Do you wonder why your house gets dusty so fast?
Posted: January 18, 2012 in Conservation, Construction techniques, Ducts, HVAC, InsulationTags: dust, dusty house, HEPA filter, leaky ducts
Do you feel like your house is always dusty, in spite of how much you vacuum and clean? Have you tried all the tricks – HEPA vacuum cleaners, air cleaners, taking your shoes off before coming in the house, washing the dog…. all to no avail? Chances are good that you’re being plagued by a [...]
5 Things to consider when replacing your heating system
Posted: January 12, 2012 in Conservation, HVACTags: boiler, furnace, heat pump, heating system
#1: Research replacement systems before your current system dies Hopefully, you’re reading this before you need to replace your heating system. Other than buying a car, a new heating system is likely to be the biggest single item you’ll purchase for your home. And just like a car, you want to do your research before [...]
Don’t let hacks destroy your home
Posted: January 4, 2012 in ConservationTags: arborist, contractor, tree
About every five years, some contractor does something horrible to my home and each time I swear it will never happen again. It’s things like this that convinced me to get into the consulting business in the first place. There’s only so much you can know so what’s a homeowner to do? First, let me [...]
I’ve been getting great questions and feedback from readers, but I know many people are “shy” about participating in these public discussions. I strongly encourage you to ask anything – there’s a good chance that there are lots of other people wondering the same thing, so your questions will help others. I choose a lot [...]
This years holidays brought the sad loss of one of our family members (Baltar) and the addition of two new dogs, Wilbur and Ripley. Wilbur is a 3-year old Cocker Spaniel that we got from a rescue. Ripley is a 7-week old Basset Hound / Cocker mix, same are our beloved Baltar. Since I’ve had [...]
