Heating your home accounts for about ten percent of your yearly energy expenditure bill. That might not seem like much, but what if you could spend even less during the winter? What if you could keep your home warmer while having a few extra dollars in your bank account? Before old man winter comes knocking at your […]
For as long as people have been heating and cooling their homes, there’s been a complicated relationship between energy loss and indoor air quality (IAQ). In fact, conventional wisdom dictates the two are more or less always at-odds: The more efficient a building is, the poorer the IAQ is. Right? Well, not quite. It’s true […]
In HVAC, the conversation about energy efficiency never ends. For installers, the challenge is to meet the highest efficiency standards within their customers’ budgets. This means ensuring that every installation includes outdoor components like roof vents and wall caps that protect the building envelope, and, determining whether your customer needs new equipment or a system […]
Are you following recent headlines about solar energy? With HVAC systems considered the biggest energy consumers in most buildings, your industry is bound to be affected by solar! Heatspring Magazine advises that HVAC technicians learn how to install solar panels if they plan to provide green building services. This is good for your HVAC installation […]
An understanding of regulations is critical to success in the HVAC industry. It ranks up there with getting the ventilation right and ensuring your customers’ quiet enjoyment of their homes with high-quality diffusers. Two upcoming policies that will have a big impact on HVAC are the new refrigerant regulations and the new efficiency requirements that […]
Did you know the same technology providing a stunning prop in the half-time entertainment at the Super Bowl can also be used to inspect rooftop HVAC systems, intake and exhaust vents, and many other elements of the health and energy efficiency of a building? As regulations evolve and drones become less expensive, you’ll see more […]
The most recent versions of LEED Certification standards have placed even more emphasis on energy efficiency. HVAC is integral to LEED certification as it affects several of the scoring categories. These scoring categories basically decide how “green” a building is. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It’s a set of standards that […]
If you’ve ever worked on a roof during the summer you’ve probably noticed it can get pretty hot up there. In fact, standard roof coverings that are dark in color can easily reach 150°F/65°C in the hot sun, potentially causing damage to the roof and transferring heat to the building below. One way to reduce […]
In earlier blog posts about net-zero homes and super-insulated wall construction we touched on the Passivhaus concept. With the upcoming 20th International Passive House Conference, in Darmstadt, Germany, from April 22-23, 2016, it’s an ideal time to take a closer look at this housing standard. As you may have guessed, Passivhaus is German for passive […]