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Pimp My Blower Door Kit
Smart Utility Bill Disaggregation
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As a green-building verifier who inspects single-family, detached and attached multifamily homes, Abe Kruger often runs across sprinkler systems. "Builders nationwide are installing more and more home fire sprinkler systems," he says in the article, "Wasting Energy or Catching Fire."

Often the motivation for installation is the requirement in the 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) for automatic fire sprinkler systems in townhomes and one- and two-family dwellings. While the value of sprinklers remains a contentious issue, the reality is that sprinklers will continue to play some role in construction. Therefore, builders and contractors need to be aware of the implications that sprinklers have for the thermal building envelope. And they need to know how to install sprinklers to maximize occupant safety and building performance.

Read sprinkler installation best practices. 


LONG LINE

Pimp My Blower Door Kit by Greg Labbe             

Author Greg Labbe knows how good it feels to repair something yourself. "Working on something makes you value that item more - and teaches you something about your equipment, too," he says in this month's article "Pimp My Blower Door Kit: Blower Door Makeover."

 

In that vein, Greg purchased a jalopy of a blower door kit that was in desperate need of TLC. The machine in question was probably 15 years old, a Model 3 blower door made by the Energy Conservatory with lovely Dwyer Magnehelic gauges. He plugged it in, the speed control worked, and the fan moved air. What could be wrong? he thought, as he handed over the cash, grinning at the deal he had just struck.

 

Read about his makeover process here.  

Energy Conservatory

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Smart Utility Bill Disaggregation by Steve Mann         

 

Thanks to "smart" utility meters, we're entering a new era of remote utility monitoring and analysis, says Steve Mann in his column, "Smart Utility Bill Disaggregation." Smart meters give utilities and authorized third parties a way to monitor consumption on a much more detailed basis than once a month. Some can be read on a real-time basis; others less often, perhaps once an hour. Detailed utility monitoring and recording can benefit both consumers and utilities.  

Read on for specific utility bill examples and processes.

LONG LINE

Industry News    

  • Rising Sun Energy Center recently announced that its Green Energy Training Services (GETS) home performance training curriculum has been licensed by the Baltimore Center for Green Careers. Read more.  
  • Blue Grass Energy announced their commitment to incorporate Home Energy Ratings and the HERS index score into their new homes program, making them the first electric cooperative to enter into an agreement with RESNET. Read on.  
  • Get the latest news and updates on Home Energy's Facebook page.  

LONG LINE

Spotlights From Our Calendar

August 12 - 17  

ACEEE Summer Study   

Pacific Grove, CA

A diverse group of professionals from around the world will gather at the 17th biennial ACEEE conference on Energy Efficiency in Buildings with presentations and discussions relating to the theme, "Fueling Our Future with Efficiency." Register here.  

  

September 25 - 27

EEBA Excellence in Building Conference & Expo  

Scottsdale, AZ

The Energy & Environmental Building Alliance looks forward to welcoming you to Scottsdale for the 30th Excellence in Building Conference & Expo, which will feature more than 55 educational sessions covering every facet of the building science industry. Register here.    

 

September 27 - 30
2012 North American Passive House Conference
Denver, CO

This conference will be presented in partnership with the Colorado chapter of the Passive House Alliance US. The call for conference presentation proposals is still open. Register here.       

 

View a full calendar of industry events at homeenergy.org.  
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