Archive of posts tagged hvac
Heat Pumps Installed and Operational
In earlier blogs we talked about sizing and selecting two heat pumps for the house. Here are some pictures showing the completed installation of these two heat pumps. The outdoor units are mounted on the side of the house. One indoor unit is placed at one end of the downstairs living room, the other at […]
California 2013 Building Energy Code To Become Effective
The California Energy Commission started issuing building energy efficiency standards (codified in Title 24, Part 6 of the California Code of Regulations) since 1978. Updates are made periodically as newer technologies and products become available, and new energy efficiency requirements change. The latest version, commonly known as the 2013 Title 24, was recently completed and […]
Selecting The Heating And Cooling System
The HVAC (Heating Ventilation Air Condition) load calculations showed that we can take some innovative approach to heating this house. First, the heating requirement of 25,000 BTU makes any conventional gas or oil fired furnace oversized. Gas/oil fired furnace typically comes with a minimum of 40,000 BTU. Ductless minisplit heat pumps are great as they […]
Sizing the Heating and Cooling System
With the energy efficiency measures we are taking: air sealing, more insulation, triple-pane windows, etc, we know that the HVAC (heating ventilation air condition) requirement will be much lower than most houses in the neighborhood. Normally a detailed calculation using the ACCA Manual J (Heating and Cooling requirement calculation) and Manual D (duct size calculation) […]
HVAC Check
Are you maintaining your heating and cooling system? – Get answers to these questions and recommendations from Energy Star” This forum provides you with resources about home renovation, improvement, makeover and repair topics such as bathroom design, cabinet replacement, countertop selection, drainage, driveway paving, drought tolerant landscape, flooring, furnace, furniture, home appliances, hot water heater, […]
Choosing A Whole-House Ventilation System
Increasingly, because of either code changes or customer demand, builders are having to take a closer look at whether the new, tight houses they build have adequate ventilation. Many builders would like to provide something better than just a few bath exhaust fans but aren’t sure how to design a simple ventilation system that is […]
An Integrated Approach to Home Energy Improvement
As a general contractor and energy assessor, I believe understanding both the local and global impacts of energy consumption are important. As a traditional home builder I have always built with quality craftsmanship. While this served me well for many years, it was not until three years ago that I began to really explore in-depth […]
A Deep Energy Retrofit Project
Staying in this house was never in the plan. We’d hoped to move into this little house in town for a couple of years, remodel and flip it, and then move to the country to live “off the grid.” But then it happened. We fell in love. Not only with our “little blue house,” but […]