Infrared and Energy Efficiency

Are We "Clueless" on Saving Energy!?

2010-08-20T08:55:00.001-07:00

Americans Are Clueless on Saving Energy

Stop telling people to just switch off the lights—it’s confusing them.

Despite all the talk about carbon footprints and the rows of compact fluorescent light bulbs at every hardware store in the U.S., consumers have no idea how much energy they use and don't understand the best ways to reduce consumption, according to a new study.
The shift to educating, and empowering, consumers has been critical in the past among utilities and smart grid startups in the home area network space. But the study shows that most efforts to date have left Americans clueless and simply doing less of their regular behavior, without looking at simple changes that could reap bigger gains in efficiency.
"Of course we should be doing everything we can. But if we're going to do just one or two things, we should focus on the big energy-saving behaviors," said lead author Shahzeen Attari, a postdoctoral fellow at Columbia University's Earth Institute and the university's Center for Research on Environmental Decisions, in a statement. "People are still not aware of what the big savers are."
Nearly 20 percent of approximately 500 study participants listed turning off lights as the best way to save energy. Furthermore, most of the people had no idea how much energy a truck uses in comparison to a train or ship, or how much energy a room air conditioner uses versus central AC. Overall, participants were more willing to somewhat curtail their actions rather than to invest in real efficiency, even if the latter would save more energy and money over the long run.
The results of the study, published in this week's Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, were slightly more promising when examining less energy-intensive behaviors. Although people's understanding was generally poorer when the potential for energy or carbon dioxide savings were large, they were more accurate on a smaller scale. For example, most participants were able to guesstimate the savings of swapping out an incandescent with a CFL or adjusting the thermostat in summer.
Those in the study also overrated the savings of many activities, including driving slowly on the highway, recycling glass containers or unplugging chargers when not in use. Even people who described themselves as having a high degree of pro-environmental behavior did not always report engaging in a large number energy-efficient habits and actions.
Although the study had some limitations, including the moderate sample size and a lack of incentives for correct answers, the conclusions are stark. "Many people's concerns about energy are simply not strong enough, relative to their other concerns, to warrant learning about energy conservation," the study authors write.
So for utilities and regulators looking to cut energy consumption through efficiency, how do you get people to care? For one, stop telling people to turn off lights when they leave the room. The conversation must become more sophisticated.
The problem with many of the smaller energy savings actions that are constantly suggested is that they don't offer enough gain for the effort. "We're all very instant gratification animals," said Daniel Moneta from MMB Research, an engineering firm that makes a family of ZigBee smart energy hardware and software for commercial vendors. "From an economic standpoint, we all should have replaced our old bulbs with CFLs. If you do the math, you'd save money."
Instead of just providing actionable information, campaigns need to include information about relative effectiveness of those actionable items. For example, many people thought that line-drying clothes would save more energy than changing their washer settings, according to the study, but the opposite is true. The study also pointed out that people will often make just one or two changes and think they are doing enough, so it might be a better strategy for utilities and government programs to communicate the best two or three actions to get the most bang for the buck.
Public education campaigns and web portals should not only recommend individual actions, but should also strive to paint a picture for people about which actions, both in the home and as consumers, can save the most money and energy.
"If we have that number in front of us all of the time, and we look at it in comparison to our Facebook friends," said Moneta, "we can see that one device next to another device has a better [contextual] meaning. I think that will certainly help to motivate customers."

University cuts power bill 10 percent through asset management

2010-08-03T09:38:00.001-07:00

Forrester Research recently reported that something like 45 percent of businesses are investing in some sort of enterprise software for managing energy consumption. A case study that shows how Bentley University has been using one such application, Infor EAM Asset Sustainability, gives you a sense of why this is so–and why this sort of thing isn't just for big companies.

The university originally looked to the Infor software as a means of automating maintenance workflow across its 46 facilities. More recently, it began wondering how to apply this same automation to managing its electricity consumption. Specifically, by integrating the software with building control systems to get a better sense of what was operating properly, and what metrics should be questioned. The software also helps with preventive maintenance.

When I spoke with the Bentley University energy systems engineer, Jess Marshall, about the project, she says the overall mission is to manage each building system (or "asset") so that it is running at its most optimal levels. By managing these technologies to certain guidelines — recognizing that each day brings new operating variables in the form of weather changes and building occupancy — the university can keep things running more smoothly, she says.

"We understand how a piece of equipment should be running vs. how it IS running," Marshall says.

So, for example, the university staff was able to see that one of its chillers was working at a dramatically different rate than the others. It was consuming 20 percent more electricity. So, the engineers adjusted the settings and made a different chiller the lead system for that building, using the more energy-hungry one as a backup, Marshall says.

In the first 11 months of using the software, Marshall says the university has reduced electricity consumption campus-wide by almost 10 percent. That's more than 2 million kilowatt hours, or the equivalent of turning off all the electricity on the campus for about 30 days.

Marshall says, where necessary, the university is using basic energy meters from Schneider Electric to feed the data into the Info software. Some of the building systems can interact with the software directly.

The visual is a Thermographic Building Summary of the university's Kresge Hall. The gray areas are unoccupied space, while the green shows occupied portions.

Rod Elsworth, vice president of global asset sustainability for Infor, says the sustainability edition of its enterprise asset management application can be licensed according to the number of concurrent users or according to the number of meters that are feeding information.

Heather Clancy

Heather Clancy is an award-winning business journalist with a passion for green technology and corporate sustainability issues. Her articles have appeared in Entrepreneur, Fortune Small Business, The International Herald Tribune and The New York Times. In a past corporate life, Heather was editor of Computer Reseller News, where she was a featured speaker about everything from software as a service to IT security to mobile computing.

Heather started her journalism life as a business writer with United Press International in New York. She holds a B.A. in English literature from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, and has a thing for Lewis Carroll.

Online BPI Certification, Only from ThermalStar

2010-07-08T21:16:00.001-07:00

To view our brochure full screen, click on the "menu" button in the bottom left corner of the slideshow screen.

Online BPI Certification, Only from ThermalStar

View more presentations from ThermalStar.

The Future of Infrared Cameras

2010-06-17T11:56:00.002-07:00

Lyon, France — Initially developed for the military market by US defense companies, use of uncooled infrared (IR) cameras in commercial applications has been growing over the last ten years. In the infrared spectrum, Long Wave Infrared (LWIR) is the most commonly used wavelength (8-12 microns). Thermography and a variety of vision enhancement applications are the main growth markets for uncooled IR cameras.

This camera cost reduction will continue through 2015 in the thermography business and will also be a strong factor in the vision market (also called night vision or vision enhancement) with the growth of the security/surveillance and automotive markets.

Driven by the continued cost reductions, the volumes of cameras sold will triple by 2015 from more than 200,000 cameras today to more than 700,000 units, meaning +23 % annual growth rate. The revenue growth will be about + 9% as market prices for the cameras decrease.
FLIR (US) has been, and remains, the pioneer of uncooled IR cameras with a vertically integrated business model (internal detector production) and a presence in all markets. This domination will be challenged at two levels in the future:

At the camera level: camera manufacturers specialized in each market have strong distribution networks and market presence. In the thermography business, Fluke will take market share from FLIR. In the security/surveillance market, visible camera leaders will enter the IR camera business (Axis, Bosch, Pelco).
At the detector level: new detector suppliers will arrive on the market from the MEMS and semiconductor industry with low cost/high volume product capabilities (Sensonor, Bosch, Faun Infrared…).
One of the major cost components for uncooled IR cameras is the IR detector. Hence, detector cost reduction is one of the major keys to further widespread use of IR cameras.

Microbolometers are the dominant uncooled IR detector technology with more than 95 % of the market in 2010.

Microbolometer manufacturers were few up to now, often owned by camera manufacturers, which limited the cost competition at the detector level. More than 75 % of the production is based in USA, due the original development of the technology by US Defense Department.

This landscape will change in the next five years: many new players (Sensonor, Faun Infrared, Bosch…), focusing only on selling detectors, often in Europe, will enter on the market place with aggressive price strategies.

Vanadium Oxide (VO x), the current dominant microbolometer material, will be challenged by a-Si material and new silicon based materials introduced by new market entrants, thanks to their cost structure, and easier to manufacture.

Detector/Microbolometer product lines are mainly segmented by format from small format (typically 160 x 120) to large format (640 x 480). Price reduction will be huge with –58 % expected between 2010 and 2015 for small format. Larger format will be under less price pressure.

The following technical trends make detector cost reduction possible:

At the packaging level: Wafer Level Packaging and even Pixel Level Packaging will play a huge part in reducing cost, -20 % at least.
At the pixel level: smaller pixel size (17 microns is becoming a standard) will allow smaller detectors.
At the integration level: 3D integration, wafer bonding techniques will allow the production of microbolometers in standard MEMS or CMOS foundries.

COMPANIES MENTIONED IN THE REPORT:

Axis Communications, Acreo, Aerius, Agiltron, Argus, e2v, Audi, Autoliv, BAE systems, BMW, Bosch, Automotive, Bosch Security Systems, Bullard, Dali, Chauvin Arnoux, Current Corporation, Dalsa, DAS Photonics, Draeger, DRS technologies, Electro Optic Sensors, EO C, ETH , Extech, GE Security, FocalPlane Santa Barbara, Fraunhofer IMS, Faun Infrared, FLIR, Fluke, GM, Goodrich, Guide Infrared, Honda, Honeywell, Infrared Solutions, INO , Ipht Jena, Invisage, Irisys, ISG , Jenoptik, KTH , L3Com, Leti, MetuMET , Mikrosistemler, Mitsubishi Electric, MSA , Murata, NE C Avio, NTT , Noble Peak Vision, OKS I, Omnivision, Panasonic, Pelco, QinetiQ, Raytheon, Redshift, Sarnoff, Satir, Samsung, Scott, SCD Semiconductors, SensArray Infrared, Sensonor, Silex, Sirica, Sony, Sumitomo Electric, Testo, Thermoteknix Systems, Toshiba, Tyco, Tyndall, Umicore, Ulis, Vigo, Xenics, Ziptronix.

HOME STAR Profiled in Home Energy Magazine

2010-06-14T14:55:00.002-07:00

The proposed HOME STAR energy retrofit program is the focus of an article published in the May/June issue of Home Energy Magazine, coauthored by Efficiency First’s national director, Jared Asch, and the association’s policy chair, Matt Golden. The article begins:

For years, those of us who work in the energy remodeling field have been promoting the personal and environmental benefits of home performance retrofits. Now industry leaders and policymakers are focusing on yet another compelling reason for Americans to invest in energy efficiency improvements—they create jobs. With one in four construction workers currently facing long-term unemployment, our nation desperately needs to cultivate sustainable employment opportunities that will breathe life into the troubled construction sector and help our economy get back on track. Large-scale retrofitting of American homes can be a big part of the solution.

Asch and Golden go on to provide a basic overview of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act now pending in Congress. If you’re not already familiar with this important legislation, the Home Energy article is a good place to begin. Read the full text online at www.homeenergy.org/article_full.php?id=710.

Infrfared to be Incorporated in the Gaming Industry - Specifically, Microsoft's XBOX 360

2010-06-14T10:26:00.003-07:00

Project Natal takes on Wii
Republished from The Los Angeles Times

REDMOND, Wash. — On a blustery January morning, Michel Laprise found himself in a private conference room within Microsoft Corp.’s labyrinthine campus here, surrounded by 15 of the company’s sharpest analytical thinkers.

Laprise started his presentation by dumping a pail full of sand on top of the conference table, alarming executives who worried about the wiring embedded in the table for PowerPoint presentations and technology demos. Armed with three rocks, a small wooden elephant and a flashlight, he spent an hour weaving a tale of a boy on a quest to locate meteors that have fallen from the sky and to uncover their meaning.
At the end of his talk, the artistic director for Cirque du Soleil got a standing ovation.

“It was amazing,” said an awestruck Don Mattrick, the 46-year-old executive who heads up the juggernaut’s multibillion-dollar video game business. Mattrick had invited Laprise to help Microsoft figure out an unconventional way to launch a new technology that would let people play games without the use of joysticks or controllers. “He used the power of words to share what he saw in his imagination. He was a great raconteur.”

Code-named Project Natal, the technology consists of three small motorized sensors — a camera, infrared depth sensor and a multi-array microphone. Attached to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console, the device interprets gestures, such as when players swing their arms to hit a golf ball, lean to steer their way through an obstacle course or swivel their hips through a dance routine. It also can recognize faces and associate them with their profiles.

For the last 35 years, Microsoft has strived to push technology into every corner of the world. Its Windows operating system powers 90 percent of all computers, and its software can be found on devices that sit in people’s pockets, purses, cars and living rooms. Yet in an ironic twist, the company’s next big feat required Microsoft to make its high-tech wizardry invisible.

So it hired one of the best illusionists out there — Cirque du Soleil, the French Canadian entertainment company known for its visually arresting extravaganzas and ethereal, new age music. In addition to the 21 permanent and traveling shows, Cirque has a special events business that does a handful of private and corporate events each year (clients have included the royal family of Dubai and the 2007 Super Bowl).

For Microsoft, Natal is critical to the future of its ambition to be at the center of entertainment in the living room. And like a besotted suitor who spared no expense, Microsoft gave Cirque free rein over both the creative aspects of the performance and its budget.

“This is a massive investment for Microsoft,” said Aaron Greenberg, Microsoft’s executive producer for the company’s E3 events. “For us, it wasn’t about the money. It was about creating an experience that would be remembered forever.”

In this incarnation, Natal is applied to video games. Designed to perch on top of a living room TV and attach to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 game console, the device can recognize faces, obey simple voice commands and track body movements and gestures.

It has been compared with Nintendo Co.’s Wii, which rocked the video game world in 2006 with its motion-sensing Wii remote. Natal is Microsoft’s attempt to one-up Nintendo, which has sold an estimated 74 million Wii consoles, compared with 43 million Xbox 360s. While the Wii has gained traction with a broad demographic ranging from toddlers to seniors, the Xbox 360 is perceived as a “hard-core” game machine for adrenaline junkies looking for elaborate ways to blow things up.

“Microsoft is deadly serious about expanding their reach with Natal,” said Michael Pachter, analyst with Wedbush Morgan Securities in Los Angeles. “But people buy consoles based on the software, and right now, we just don’t know what games are actually going to be on there. Once we get a chance to see those games, then we can better evaluate things.”

Another challenge: Getting the attention of consumers who don’t normally play video games, much less the shoot-em-up’s that the Xbox 360 is known for.

EasyJet Using Infrared Technology to Avoid Ash Clouds Surrounding Iceland

2010-06-08T09:33:00.000-07:00

EasyJet will use infrared technology to help its aircraft avoid the remains of the ash cloud caused by the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano.

The Luton-based airline is trialling a new technology called AVOID (Airborne Volcanic Object Identifier and Detector); a system that involves placing infrared technology on an aircraft to supply images to both the pilots and an airline’s flight control centre. The system produces images that will enable pilots to see ash clouds up to 100km ahead of the aircraft and at altitudes of between 5,000ft and 50,000ft.

At ground control level, staff will be able to use information from the AVOID system to build an accurate image of the volcanic ash cloud in real time, and subsequently open up large areas of airspace that would otherwise be closed during a volcanic eruption.

Dr Fred Prata, senior scientist at the Norwegian Institute for Air Research (NILU), invented the AVOID system. He said: “AVOID enhances the theory around volcanic ash clouds with live data. EasyJet is committed to bring our technology to life.”

The first test flight is to be carried out by Airbus on behalf of EasyJet within two months. If it proves successful, EasyJet will trial the technology on its own planes with a view to installing it on enough aircraft to minimise future disruption from ash.

House Passes Energy Efficient Homes Tax Credit Extension

2010-06-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

On Friday the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 4213 that included the extension of the $2,000 federal tax credit for energy efficient new homes. Below is the language that was passed:

SEC. 206. NEW ENERGY EFFICIENT HOME CREDIT.

12 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (g) of section 45L is
13 amended by striking ‘‘December 31, 2009’’ and inserting
14 ‘‘December 31, 2010’’.
15 (b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—The amendment made by this
16 section shall apply to homes acquired after December 31,
17 2009.

The extension of the energy efficient homes credit was part of an omnibus tax extension bill. Since the House version differs in total content it must go through a reconciliation process with the Senate. Since the House and Senate language for the energy efficient homes credit extension it will not be affected by the reconciliate process. Once the House and Senate passes the bill, President Obama must sign it.

RESNET efforts now need to be directed in extending the credit to homes that meet 50 on the HERS Index and extending the credit to 2014.

NASA's Airborne Infrared Observatory Sees 'First Light'

2010-06-02T13:37:00.000-07:00

(re-published from sciencedaily.com)

"With this flight, SOFIA begins a 20-year journey that will enable a wide variety of astronomical science observations not possible from other Earth and space-borne observatories," said Jon Morse, Astrophysics Division director in the Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington. "It clearly sets expectations that SOFIA will provide us with "Great Observatory"-class astronomical science."
The highly modified SOFIA Boeing 747SP jetliner fitted with a 100-inch diameter reflecting telescope took off from its home base at the Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif., of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center. The in-flight personnel consisted of an international crew from NASA, the Universities Space Research Association in Columbia, Md., Cornell University and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) in Stuttgart. During the six-hour flight, at altitudes up to 35,000 feet, the crew of 10 scientists, astronomers, engineers and technicians gathered telescope performance data at consoles in the aircraft's main cabin.
"Wind tunnel tests and supercomputer calculations made at the start of the SOFIA program predicted we would have sharp enough images for front-line astronomical research," said SOFIA project scientist Pam Marcum of NASA's Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. "A preliminary look at the first light data indicates we indeed accomplished that."
The stability and precise pointing of the German-built telescope met or exceeded the expectations of the engineers and astronomers who put it through its paces during the flight.
"The crowning accomplishment of the night came when scientists on board SOFIA recorded images of Jupiter," said USRA SOFIA senior science advisor Eric Becklin. "The composite image from SOFIA shows heat, trapped since the formation of the planet, pouring out of Jupiter's interior through holes in its clouds."
The highly sensitive Faint Object infrared Camera for the SOFIA Telescope (FORCAST) used for these initial observations was operated in flight by its builders, a team led by Cornell's Terry Herter. FORCAST captures in minutes images that would require many hour-long exposures by ground-based observatories blocked from a clear infrared view by water vapor in the Earth's atmosphere. SOFIA's operational altitude, which is above more than 99 percent of that water vapor, allows it to receive 80 percent or more of the infrared light accessible to space observatories.
The SOFIA program is managed at Dryden. Ames manages the SOFIA science and mission operations in cooperation with USRA and DSI.

For more information about SOFIA, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/sofia
For information about SOFIA's science mission, visit: http://www.sofia.usra.edu
To see video of SOFIA in flight, click here

Infrared Expands its Utitlity Astronomically

2010-05-24T08:55:00.002-07:00

Hot Stars Found Hidden in Galaxy's Dusty Embrace
By SPACE.com Staff

A European telescope has used infrared vision to pierce the veil of dust around the galaxy Messier 83, and revealed clusters of young stars hidden within dusty regions that harbor star factories.

The new galaxy photo comes courtesy of the HAWK-1 camera belonging to the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope (VLT) at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. Such findings help astronomers seek out the younger star clusters in order to better understand the birth and evolution of stars.

An infrared view not only eliminates makes much of the dust effectively transparent, but also tones down the brightly lit gas that tends to hang around hot young stars.

Binocular-wielding stargazers already know Messier 83 as one of the brightest nearby galaxies. The galaxy is located 15 million light-years away from Earth and spans over 40,000 light-years, where a light-year is the distance light travels in a year, about 6 trillion miles (10 trillion km).

Messier 83 also looks like a strikingly similar twin to our Milky Way galaxy with its spiral shape and bar of stars across the center, despite having just 40 percent the size of the Milky Way.

Astronomers recognize Messier 83 for its record-breaking number of observed supernovas that mark the end of many a star's life. Just one other galaxy can match that record.

Home Star Legislation has Passed!

2010-05-07T12:35:00.000-07:00

Republished from Yahoo! News
Pelosi: 'The Home Star Jobs Bill is About Building a Stronger Economy That Works for Main Street and the Middle Class'
Thu May 6, 5:32 pm ET

WASHINGTON, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire - Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today following passage of the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act, providing incentives for consumers to make their homes more energy efficient. The bill passed by a vote of 246 to 161.

"Today, the House took another step forward to create good-paying, American jobs that cannot be outsourced, to lower energy costs for consumers, and to build our clean energy economy.

"The Home Star jobs bill is about building a stronger economy that works for Main Street and the middle class. The legislation will create nearly 168,000 jobs in construction, manufacturing, and retail – some of the hardest hit sectors during the Bush recession. It will cut costs for consumers, decreasing energy bills by up to $500 per year for 3 million families. And it will reduce our dangerous dependence on foreign oil and dirty fuels, cutting energy use equal to roughly 7 million barrels of heating oil in 2011.

"It's not surprising that Republicans offered a poison pill in their motion to recommit – demonstrating, once again, that they are not serious about addressing the top concerns of the American people: job creation, economic security, and energy independence. We will work with the Senate to fix this flawed language and focus the final bill on these critical challenges for our middle class.

"I applaud the Members of Congress who voted for this bill. With bills like the Home Star jobs legislation, Democrats are standing up for Main Street and creating jobs for our middle class and small businesses, while Republicans side with Wall Street, Big Oil, and special interests."

(*Note, we have no political preference or affiliation, we are simply enthusiastic as a company that the legislation passed)

Energy Star Fraud - Beware, Applicable to Homes Too

2010-05-04T09:28:00.001-07:00

A new report from the auditing arm of Congress shows that the federal Energy Star program has a sloppy certification process that can be easily abused.

The 18-year-old program, which is administered jointly by the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy, offers consumers rebates and tax credits on appliances that meet certain standards for energy efficiency. American consumers, businesses, and federal agencies rely on the Energy Star program to identify products that decrease greenhouse emissions and lower energy costs. Companies use Energy Star certification to market their products to consumers in the hopes they will buy products based on government certification of their energy consumption and costs.

Given the millions of dollars allocated to encourage use of Energy Star products and concerns that the Energy Star program is vulnerable to fraud and abuse, GAO was asked to conduct proactive testing to (1) obtain Energy Star partnership status for bogus companies and (2) submit fictitious products for Energy Star certification. To perform this investigation, GAO used four bogus manufacturing firms and fictitious individuals to apply for Energy Star partnership and submitted 20 fictitious products with fake energy-savings claims for Energy Star certification. GAO also reviewed program documents and interviewed agency officials and officials from agency Inspector General (IG) offices.

But in a report issued today, the Government Accountability Office says its auditors obtained Energy Star certifications for 15 of 20 products it submitted using fictitious companies and individuals. Those certifications led to requests from real companies to buy some products because they had received Energy Star endorsements.

The phony products included a gasoline-powered alarm clock, which was approved by Energy Star without a review of the company web site or questions about the efficiency claimed for it. Auditors also submitted a geothermal heat pump, which they claimed to be more efficient than any product listed as certified on the Energy Star Web site. The product was certified and its efficiency data was not questioned. Two bogus products were rejected by the program and 3 did not receive a response. One of the products that an outside company wanted to buy was a computer monitor that had been approved by Energy Star within 30 minutes of submission.

This clearly shows how heavily American consumers rely on the Energy Star brand.

At briefings on GAO's investigation, DOE and EPA officials agreed that the program is currently based on self-certifications by manufacturers. However, officials stated there are after-market tests and self-policing that ensure standards are maintained. GAO did not test or evaluate controls related to products that were already certified and available to the public. In addition, prior DOE IG, EPA IG, and GAO reports have found that current Energy Star controls do not ensure products meet efficiency guidelines.

In 2008 Energy Star reported saving consumers $19 billion dollars on utility costs. Energy Star is slated to receive about $300 million in federal stimulus money to be used for state rebate programs on energy-efficient products.

Energy Star fraud not only affects products, but your house. Many homes are Energy Star “approved”, while a quick thermal scan can determine whether the house is, in fact, energy efficient. As a licensed home inspector, I have come across many homes that were “Energy Star compliant” but consistently had gaps of missing insulation. Beware of an Energy Star rated home, get an infrared energy audit before investing in a property.

Below are some sample pictures of mine from home inspections of Energy Star approved houses:

President Issues Statement in Press Release on Home Star Program

2010-04-19T14:47:00.001-07:00

President Issues Statement on HOME STAR Program

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary

April 15, 2010
STATEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT ON HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE PASSAGE OF “HOMESTAR” LEGISLATION

“Today’s bipartisan Committee vote is an important step forward in our effort to create jobs, save consumers money, and increase energy efficiency. In my State of the Union Address and in the months since, I have called on Congress to pass a program of incentives to homeowners who make their homes more energy efficient. The Home Star legislation approved today would do just that – providing consumers with up-front rebates on investments in things like insulation, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and windows that have been proven to save energy. This proposal is not a Democratic or Republican idea: it’s a common sense strategy to help put Americans back to work while giving American consumers a break. I want to thank the members of Congress from both parties that have worked to support this legislation, as well as their colleagues in the Senate who are working to promote Home Star legislation. I look forward to working with Congress to get this bill to my desk without delay.”

Go Green Now - Better Economy Later

2010-04-16T10:30:00.000-07:00

April 12, 2010

Energy-efficiency measures in the southern United States could save consumers $41 billion on their energy bills, open 380,000 new jobs, and save 8.6 billion gallons of water over the next 10 years, according to research conducted from Duke University and the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Each dollar invested in energy efficiency over the next 20 years will reap an average of $2.25 in benefits, the study concluded. These findings indicate the construction of dozens of new power plants could be avoided. Nearly 25 gigawatts of older power plants could be retired and the construction of new power plants (generating up to 50 gigawatts) of power could be avoided.

"We looked at how these policies might interact, not just single programs," says researcher Etan Gumerman at Duke University's Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions. "The interplay between policies compounds the savings - and its all cost-effective."

Perks of energy investment include the average residential electricity bill would decline by 26 dollars per month in 2020 and 50 dollars per month in 2030, the study projects. In total, the study concludes that investing 200 billion dollars in energy efficiency programs over the next 20 years could return 448 billion dollars in savings.

New appliance standards, incentives for retrofitting and weatherization, upgrades to utility plants and process improvements were among the policies researchers considered. To achieve their results, the researchers modeled how implementation of nine policies across the residential, commercial and industrial sectors might play out over 20 years in the District of Columbia and 16 southern states. Thirty-six percent of Americans live in the study region. With its low electricity rates, which encourage consumption, the South consumes a super-sized portion of American energy at 44 percent, and supplies 48 percent of the nation's power. Researchers generated a business as usual scenario, without any policies, and compared it with scenarios that included specific sets of energy-efficiency investments, to capture the cost savings. Yet, energy-efficient products have a lower market penetration in this region more than elsewhere in the country, and these states spend less per capita on efficiency programs than the national average.

"An aggressive commitment to energy efficiency could be an economic windfall for the South," said researcher Dr. Marilyn Brown of the Georgia Institute of Technology. "Such a shift would lower energy bills for cash-strapped consumers and businesses and create more new jobs for Southern workers."

The region's economy is anticipated to grow by 1.23 billion dollars in 2020 and increase to 2.12 billion dollars in 2030. Interestingly, the study found that the reduction in power plant capacity would save southern regions of the North American Electrical Reliability Corporation 8.6 billion gallons of fresh water in 2020 and 20.1 billion gallons in 2030.

Successful utility company Georgia Power says it is already promoting energy efficiency to help customers save money and to reduce the need for power plants. In total, the company plans to invest almost 500 million dollars over the next 10 years on programs such as free in-home energy audits that show residential customers how energy efficient their home is and inform them of ways to save energy. The company is providing some funding to help low-income customers make home improvements for increased energy efficiency and has a recycling program for older refrigerators and freezers.

Funded with support from the Energy Foundation, the Kresge Foundation and Turner Foundation, the study, "Energy Efficiency in the South" is available on the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance website: www.seealliance.org/programs/research.php.

State profiles are also available through the Alliance, a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency in the Southeast.

Obama's Energy Plan - Earn an $8,000 Tax Credit for an Energy Efficient Home

2010-04-09T08:02:00.000-07:00

A major source of energy waste in homes is an incomplete or improperly sealed building envelope—essentially, the boundary between inside and outside. One third of all heating and cooling leaks are found between joints in the floors, ceilings, and walls; almost half of the remaining leaks are found between fireplaces, windows, doors, or heating and cooling ducts. Today a homeowner is faced with the burden

of perfecting weatherization of their house in an effort to fight rising energy costs. To assist homeowners in identifying and fixing these common problems, the Obama Administration has recently announced the HomeStar program.

HomeStar will provide tax rebates of up to $8,000 for a projected 3 million homeowners across the country. These credits will fund improvements to address the energy losses caused by leaks and air loss in unsealed houses. The HomeStar program will provide incentives for products and services affiliated with energy efficiency and, upon completion of weatherization improvements, rewards will be offered to homeowners for every nominal 5% saved in home energy consumption. Depending on the size and average energy consumption of the household, the improvements are expected to save between $200 and $500 annually. The program is expected to pass through Congress quickly due to strong bipartisan political support for energy efficiency.

The HomeStar program is divided into two tiers corresponding to the extent and expense of improvements. The Gold Star program will provide up to $8,000 for inspections including an energy audit and any efficiency measures that are projected to result in a 20% reduction in home energy costs from the previous year’s data. An additional credit of $1,000 is also available for each 5% increment of energy reduction costs. It is expected the GoldStar program will provide rebates to 500,000 homeowners in the United States.
The Silver Star component of the HomeStar program targets the Do-It-Yourself-ers who prefer to perform the work themselves. This program will provide rebates of up to 50% of the cost of weatherization materials. Products eligible for rebates must meet program efficiency standards, though they may include both synthetic and eco-friendly insulations, caulks, windows, doors, duct wrapping, fireplace seals (including flue repairs), as well as plumbing and electrical fixture seals. Homeowners will be eligible to claim credits of up to $3,000 from store rebates found on eligible products or through local energy providers; 2.9 million homes are projected to participate.
In the process of tightening the envelope, homeowners are advised to either have a professional home inspection or a do it yourself radon test in sub level basements upon completion of the weatherization process, as a perfectly sealed home can result in a rapid spread of formerly accumulated radon pollution, commonly found in sub-basements. Congress has projected a total home energy savings of $9.4 billion over the next decade with an improved health and comfort rating for up to 3.3 million homes. These energy savings are the equivalent to taking 615,000 cars off the road or four 30-megawatt power plants. Check back to our blog for more about program developments, participants’ success stories, or to learn more about how to bring green to your home - and profit!

'Home Star' Program to Plug Home Energy Retrofits

2010-03-29T16:09:00.002-07:00

(re-published from CNET news, Isaac Savage)

You heard of Cash for Clunkers, get ready for Cash for Caulkers, a proposed multibillion program designed to create jobs and give homeowners lower energy bills.

Representatives from building efficiency advocacy groups on Friday held a “Webinar” to outline the Home Star program–nicknamed Cash for Caulkers–and said that its prospects for becoming a law should be known within several weeks. A Home Star Coalition has been formed, which includes large retailers Home Depot and Lowes, equipment suppliers such as Dow and GE appliances, along with energy-efficiency contractors, labor groups, and environmental advocacy groups.

For homeowners, the proposed legislation provides incentives to weatherize homes, through the the inspection of an energy audit, and upgrade to more efficient lighting or heating and cooling systems. Another part of a comprehensive energy audit is a blower door test, which measures how air tight a home is by measuring air flow at a given air pressure.

It will be structured on two levels; silver and gold – depending on the level of investment made, said Matt Golden, the chair of the EfficiencyFirst advocacy group.

To get up to $2,000 in tax credits for an energy efficiency retrofit, a homeowner needs to do at least two approved improvements and work with contractors that meet certain “basic standards,” said Golden, adding that Home Star is designed to fit with the EPA’s Home Performance EnergyStar standards and state programs.

The gold level involves having a building’s energy “performance” rated by contractors accredited by the Building Performance Institute. The more stringent performance goals, which could reduce a building’s energy consumption of 20 percent, would be eligible for up to $4,000 of tax credits, according to the description on the EfficiencyFirst Web site.

The intent of Home Star is to create jobs in the short term, either through training or creating demand for home efficiency products and services. But given the amount of money being discussed and its standards-based approach, Home Star has the potential to be “transformative” in the building efficiency industry, Golden said. “This is a moment in time where we are going to have a foundation to drive a strong industry,” he said.

President Obama’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board, which includes venture capitalist and green-tech investor John Doerr, has endorsed the plan as it meets economic and environmental goals, Golden noted. There’s also the potential to create demand for green building products. Among some of Home Star Coalition members is Serious Materials, a Silicon Valley company that makes energy-efficiency building products including windows and sheet rock that’s manufactured in a relatively low-polluting way.

Golden cautioned that Home Star is not yet law. But it does have clear support from President Obama, who has touted the benefits of home weatherization many times and called insulation “sexy” during a Home Depot visit last month.

Cash 4 Caulkers!

2009-12-17T13:10:00.002-07:00

Homeowners Getting a Push to Caulk, Insulate Those Air Leaks
By GWENDOLYN BOUNDS

The proposed "Cash for Caulkers" program aims to encourage homeowners to invest in things like caulking air leaks around windows, doors and in crawl spaces and basements, adding insulation in walls and attics, and installing more efficient heating and cooling equipment.

Such unsexy-sounding home improvements can be some of the most lucrative in terms of energy savings and make a home far more comfortable. The federal Energy Star program estimates homeowners can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs just by sealing and insulating, or "weatherizing" against the elements.

Exactly how funds would be distributed and whether do-it-yourselfers could claim a piece of the action remain to be seen.

Under one proposed scenario, consumers would hire a professional "energy auditor" who evaluates where homes are most vulnerable to energy loss, said Adam Parker, president of Conservation Services Group Inc., which has been involved in discussions with the White House. Some tools of the trade: an infrared camera that produces images of warm and cold areas, and a fan contraption called a "blower door" that helps suss out air leaks.

These audits typically cost between $300 and $700, though aid often is available for low-income homeowners, and some utilities provide audits free. Afterward, the auditor would recommend a series of steps to improve the home's overall energy efficiency with caulk, insulation, updated windows and heating and cooling equipment. Key to the program's success or failure would be tracking and analyzing work so consumers don't fall victim to a rush of unskilled workers seeking to cash in.

Crime Still Pays

2009-09-08T11:00:00.003-07:00

When will this type of Corruption reach into the Weatherization World!?

Corruption Probe Weakens Department of Buildings' Structural Integrity

The DOB is more like the MOB, according to shocking new revelations reported today.

At least six inspectors with the city's Department of Buildings have been videotaped taking bribes at construction sites, and some were seen dealing cocaine and prescription pills, according to the New York Post.

The workers, some of whom allegedly have ties to the Luchese crime family, will be arrested later this month, along with about two dozen mafioso, sources told the Post.

"This is going to be big," their source said.

The forthcoming arrests are the result of a two-year probe which spawned a 2007 New Jersey case involving a Luchese squad that ran a $2 billion-a-year gambling ring and supplied drugs and cellphones to Bloods members in state prisons, according to the Post.
As the investigation sprawled across the Hudson, probers began following buildings inspectors and captured crooked workers taking $50 and $100 payoffs to ignore violations. Then, even more shocking, several inspectors reportedly were videotaped selling OxyContin, Vicodin and cocaine while on duty.

Two inspectors are now allegedly cooperating with the investigation, sources told the Post.

A spokeswomen for the DOB said they would release a statement shortly.

Article from Dr. Tim Foresman

2009-09-07T05:35:00.003-07:00

Thermal Infrared Applications

Figure 1 Airborne Thermal IR of homes, depicting energy loss differences with 25-cm ground resolution at 1000-meter altitude (courtesy of Jenoptik).

Figure 1 Airborne Thermal IR of homes, depicting energy loss differences with 25-cm ground resolution at 1000-meter altitude (courtesy of Jenoptik).

Green jobs are just kicking off in this nation, with Vice President Joe Biden holding the standard as the most visible of the administration spokespersons. Van Jones, the green collar guru, has been recruited into the White House, demonstrating further support for this societal transition to all things green and sustainable. The ship of state is large, however, and even with the stimulus, our national agenda is turning ever so slowly towards energy conservation and greener lifestyles. More money has been spent on ads by the energy companies touting their green credentials than has actually be spent on green investments, but the sentiment is there in the marketing/PR departments and that in itself is a harbinger for change.

Perhaps a revisit to the classic I Ching text offering metaphorical guidance through life’s seasons of change is appropriate for us now. Energy issues are reaching all Americans, as tracked by media headlines. As of this writing, Congress is wrestling with the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which addresses a litany of issues from creation of a ‘cap-and-trade’ system to electric and hybrid cars to energy efficiency in homes and buildings. The fossil fuel companies are lobbying a tug-of-war with environmental and consumer groups, with consensus that coal will come out a winner for the foreseeable future. Energy efficiency, however, is being codified for building ordinances and is adding momentum to current programs by states and municipalities to measure and monitor the carbon footprints of their jurisdictions.

Figure 2 Hand-held thermal IR sensor image depicting energy loss areas, especially glazing surfaces in homes (image courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc.).

Figure 2 Hand-held thermal IR sensor image depicting energy loss areas, especially glazing surfaces in homes (image courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc.).

Carbon calculators are becoming mandated throughout country and were a hot topic at the National League of Cities (NLC) “Green Cities” conference held in Portland, Oregon, in April 2009. The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI, www.iclei.org), with over 500 city members, is leading the parade of carbon calculators and garnering the market share by forging ties with NLC and the U.S. Green Building Council. In my state of Maryland, the governor has established a special task force to perform energy audits for all state buildings, with the goal of quantifying the state energy efficiency. Government managers throughout the nation are becoming occupied by the new trends for carbon accountability and are eagerly repositioning priorities to address the deluge of weatherization funds stimulated from our nation’s Capitol. All of these actions and policies should be viewed as good news for the remote sensing community, due to the intrinsic need to apply technology into this fray.

Thermal infrared (IR) remote sensing technology represents both low hanging fruit and a potential market stimulator for Imaging Notes readership. It is still early in the game, with many elements of legal instruments still remaining to make this topic interesting, but clearly, thermal IR holds great promise and utility in the energy conservation arena. First, we can think of applying thermal IR data collection over-flights for whole communities or cities as a precursor to establishing a baseline for the energy efficiency of homes and buildings.

It would seem logical that, if states, counties, and cities are going to expend millions of dollars for calculating carbon, a baseline quantification would be prudent. (Note: Current carbon calculators are spreadsheet-based approximations lacking any scientific calibration.) Large amounts of money will be distributed based on targeting goals for energy reduction, and baselines are requisite to this process. Thermal IR has been well demonstrated for its capacity to quantify temperature differences (one degree Kelvin) for surface objects (Figure 1).

Delineating the relative differences for energy loss in buildings and homes is straightforward and can be overlain for georeference with municipal GIS databases. County and city administrators can work with utility providers to link the energy loss data with customer billings to create a robust energy conservation profile for their jurisdictions. While privacy issues may be raised, the only winners will likely be plaintiffs’ lawyers, due to the forensic history in remote sensing.
The boost in small and large firms hawking their services is evidence that energy audits of homes are increasing. On a house-to-house basis, hand-held thermal IR offers a great way to assess energy heat losses in a building (Figures 2 and 3). Hand-held thermal IR sensors provide answers to the hidden clues regarding glazing losses, insulation gaps, empty wall cavities, and seam or joint leaks. This information is critical for the weatherization retrofit construction work that can most effectively address remediation of heat loss and thereby lower the building owner’s utility bill. Because there is a direct link between professionally executed weatherization and lowering of energy bills (estimates range from $500 to $1000 per year for the average home along the mid-Atlantic region), the impetus to market thermal IR to a larger but disaggregated customer base should be improving.

Figure 3 Hand-held thermal IR sensor for energy audits and building inspections (image courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc.).

Figure 3 Hand-held thermal IR sensor for energy audits and building inspections (image courtesy of FLIR Systems, Inc.).

Is our industry paying attention to the energy conservation trend? At the March 2009 ASPRS meeting in Baltimore, a survey of the industry demonstrated only anecdotal evidence of interest in thermal IR sensors. No company represented there offered the services to the commercial market. Thermal IR sensors have held fast to the market needs of the Department of Defense and have not ventured out to the energy security of our nation. Perhaps, with the advent of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, the remote sensing industry will shift gears and make forays into the rapidly expanding market for home and community energy audits and into the longer term requirements for monitoring our nation’s buildings for ever-increasing energy efficiencies. We might start by introducing our technological prowess to the leading architectural and engineering firms and mayor’s offices.

Dr. Timothy W. Foresman is President of the International Centre for Remote Sensing Education. He has been director of United Nations Environment Programme’s Division of Early Warning and Assessment (Nairobi, Kenya) and national program manager for NASA’s Digital Earth (Washington, D.C.). He is editor of The History of Geographic Information Systems, 1998, Prentice Hall.

The "Bacon" Bites Back!

2009-08-27T16:31:00.005-07:00

Unions in Nevada, have thrown down the gauntlet, ...The Davis-Bacon act. State of Nevada Weatherization agencies and their contractors have tried to skirt the prevailing wage issue, but not so fast!
The Nevada AFL-CIO contends that the Nevada Housing Division is not complying with a new state law that requires contractors doing stimulus-funded weatherization work to pay prevailing wage, offer health insurance and hire half of the workers from a training program that has not yet begun.
Actually, this is true.
Prevailing wage is determined by the state labor commissioner and is often close to the union wage in an area.

State AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasuer Danny Thompson said the dispute is not a conflict between labor and management. It's about the reluctance of the housing division to follow the law.

"I have got people trained who could do the work if the housing division let them, and not just union workers," Thompson said. "This is not a union, nonunion issue."

Dianne Cornwall, director of the state Department of Business and Industry, said she can't understand why the union wants a restraining order to block the start of $10.4 million in "weatherization" projects.

The state risks losing the money if it's not spent.$$$$$$

Hmmmm??? Wonder how this will play out.

Radiant Barrier Study from the Smokey Mountains

2009-08-20T16:09:00.004-07:00

Appalachian State University Study Quantifies Benefits of Radiant Barrier
For product information visit www.tvmi.com

The Energy Center of Appalachian State University (ASU) today announced the results of a case study to measure
the benefits of adding radiant barrier in home attics.

Key findings of the study include:

-- A 23-degree drop in the peak attic temperature occurred in a home
outfitted with radiant heat barrier versus a similar home without the
barrier;
-- A 20 percent reduction in the run-time of the air conditioning unit
during the seven hours of peak attic temperatures; and

-- The radiant barrier improved the efficiency of cooled air delivered
through the air ducts by 57 percent during this period.

"This particular study showed the installation of a radiant barrier in an attic can make it easier for your air conditioner
to do its job in the summer heat," said Jeff Tiller, P.E., Appalachian State University. "That translates to lower electricity
usage, which also impacts the carbon footprint of homes."

The study was conducted in the summer of 2008 by an ASU team led by Tiller, chair of the ASU Technology Department, and
Bruce Davis, Building Research Scientist at the ASU Energy Center. The study was funded by a U.S. Department of Energy
Building America grant provided through the North Carolina Energy Office. The research team utilized two side-by-side,
four-bedroom model homes built by Centex Homes in Charlotte, North Carolina. A total of 61 sensors were installed inside
and outside of the homes to gather data.

"Radiant barriers are a key feature of our Centex Energy Advantage suite of energy efficiency features," said Clayton Traylor
who heads environmental affairs for Centex. "We're very pleased that this study validates the significant energy saving benefits
our customers can expect from owning a Centex Energy Advantage home."

"We're pleased to have been able to work with Centex on this project. They strongly believe in the value of research
to make decisions that help achieve energy efficiency gains - not just in the building phase of the home, but over its
entire operating life," added Bruce Davis.

Centex began building its homes with radiant barrier roof decking in January of 2009 as part of its
Centex Energy Advantage suite of energy-efficient features.* Centex sold 2,843 homes in the quarter
ended March 31, 2009. Homes with Centex Energy Advantage features have been shown to have an overall
energy efficiency gain of up to 22 percent over comparable homes built to the most widely used energy
efficiency code, according to the NAHB Research Center
For product information visit www.tvmi.com

The Stimulus Money Has Finally Arrived!

2009-07-16T09:23:00.007-07:00

All across the country, State agencies are "Awash"
with Stimulus money for Weatherization

Ready or not, Here is comes! States are getting a massive boost in federal money to weatherize drafty homes, an increase so huge it has raised fears of waste and fraud and set off a scramble to find workers and houses for them to repair.

*The Only way to absolutely "Verify" both missing insulation as well as the completed job, is with an Infrared Thermal Scan! See more at Go-IR.com
An obscure program that installs insulation in homes and makes them more energy-efficient is distributing $4.7 billion in stimulus funds -- dwarfing the $447 million originally planned by Congress this year and the $227 million spent in 2008.
That is enough to weatherize 1 million homes, instead of the 140,000 normally done each year.
President Barack Obama said pouring money into the program would lower utility bills for cash-strapped families, provide jobs for construction workers idled by the housing slump, and make the nation more energy-efficient.
"You're getting a three-fer," Obama said. "That's exactly the kind of program we should be funding."
But some worry states won't be able to keep track of the money.
Leslie Paige, spokeswoman for the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, said the program is open to fraud because of the way oversight is divided. The federal government passes the money to states, then states pass it to community action agencies, and the agencies pass it to contractors who work with customers.
"It's such a Rube Goldberg operation it should be setting off alarm bells," she said.
Energy Department spokeswoman Christina Kielich defended the program, saying the federal government monitors state operations and does a thorough review at least every two years of the local organizations. In addition, states are getting their money in increments and must demonstrate quality control to get more.
The program helps low-income families take steps to reduce their home energy expenses, from caulking leaky windows to replacing heating and cooling systems. The Energy Department says 6.2 million households have benefited since it began in 1976, saving the average household about $350 a year on energy bills.
In addition to receiving an infusion of stimulus money, the program was expanded to cover families making up to twice the federal poverty level, or $44,100 for a family of four. Also, the average amount that can be spent per house was more than doubled to $6,500.
The funding for New York is going up from $20.1 million last year to $395 million. California's share is soaring from $6.3 million to $185.8 million. Virginia's is going up 23 1/2 times, from $4 million annually to $94.1 million.

Mizz-OU-Rah!! Gears Up!!

2008-12-11T12:00:00.002-07:00

Being a Mizzou Alum and a "Show Me" kinda of guy, I really liked this news from my home state.

Missouri Turning to Private Contractors for Home Energy Audits
2009 tax deductions likely to spur increased demand
December 2008

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources sponsors the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, which makes certified home energy audits available to homeowners.
Missouri is gearing up for an increasing demand for home energy audits by authorizing private, certified contractors to perform the assessments. Through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program, homeowners can request a home audit, or performance analysis, which will provide a series of recommendations for increasing energy efficiency.
Fluctuating energy prices in the last year have increased general awareness of the need to curb usage. In addition, new Missouri legislation that goes into effect in 2009 provides a tax deduction for home energy audits and the cost of implementing recommendations, provided that the procedures are done by individuals certified by the state's Department of Natural Resources. The department's Energy Office is administering the auditor certification effort, as well as the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program.
In the Kansas City area, the home audits are overseen by the Metropolitan Energy Center. A story in the October 5 edition of the Kansas City Star ("Area Program Aims to Cut Home Energy Use") reported that home energy audits generally cost between $300 and $500. A rebate of up to $600 is being offered by Kansas City Power and Light to its Missouri customers who take advantage of the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR audit and implement at least one of the recommendations to improve efficiency.
For homeowners considering a home audit, the Department of Natural Resources provides a list of certified energy auditors (also called "building analysts"). It is up to homeowners to select an auditor, to determine whether to make recommended improvements, and to choose a supplier to perform whatever work is done.

Oregon Governor Seeks Mandatory Efficiency Audits for Home Sales

2008-12-07T10:26:00.004-07:00

Oregon's Governor proposes a Mandatory Efficiency Audit for ALL Home Sales!

All homes and commercial properties being sold in Oregon would be required to have an energy efficiency score under a new proposal.
Potential home sellers determined to ride out the sputtering housing market would do well to invest in efficiency upgrades while they wait — particularly if a new real estate mandate under consideration on the West Coast is a sign of what’s to come.
Oregon’s governor, Ted Kulongoski, wants to require any owner selling or renting a home or commercial building in the state to obtain a certificate disclosing the property’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. The mandate, part of his climate change agenda for 2009, would take effect in 2011 for new and existing homes and in 2012 for commercial buildings.
“With escalating energy prices, a homeowner or small business person has a right to know the energy performance of a home or building they invest in,” reads a draft of the bill provided by the governor’s office. Mr. Kulongoski said he plans to submit it to the Oregon legislature in January.
The certificates could prove both a selling point for owners of energy-efficient buildings and a boon to homebuyers by providing a basis for lower mortgage and insurance rates tied to efficiency.
But they could also become an encumbrance to owners trying to sell old or drafty homes, for whom a low rating could look like a defect.
The bill is likely to face some resistance from the Oregon Home Builders Association and the Oregon Realtors Association. The industry lobbies generally support a voluntary program, but are opposed to a state mandate.
Gov. Ted Kulongoski says every Oregon home buyer has the right to know the energy efficiency of a prospective purchase. (Photo: Bloomberg)
Jon Chandler, chief executive of the Oregon Homebuilders Association called mandatory certificates “silly.”
“It’s an educational tool,” Mr. Chandler said. “It doesn’t do anything for energy efficiency one way or another.” Nonetheless, he added, “We’re gearing up for the mandate. We’d like to position ourselves to do the contracting work.”
The proposed bill directs the Oregon Department of Energy to design a home energy rating system, similar to the miles-per-gallon rating on cars.
The basis for such a system might well come from Earth Advantage, a nonprofit sustainable building organization based in Portland. That group has already developed a national certification program for new construction, and it has been working on an efficiency rating program modeled after one in Great Britain, which began requiring certificates for all residential real estate transactions nationwide on Oct. 1.
The Energy Trust of Oregon, an independent nonprofit group created by the Oregon Public Utility Commission and charged with “encouraging energy market transformation” in the state, according to its Web site, is using the Earth Advantage rating system in a pilot project involving 200 Portland homes. The aim is to find the fastest and cheapest way of performing energy audits and issuing certificates for homeowners.
Testing ends this month and the Energy Trust says it will report the results early next year.
“Hopefully this program will serve as a model for the state and the country,” said Kendall Youngblood, a residential sector manager for the Energy Trust. “We’re designing it as an education piece for the homeowner, so they start to understand homes are associated with carbon emissions.”
Other states, including California and Minnesota already have similar voluntary certification programs that use the U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency Home Energy Rating System. Homes are scored between 0 and 100 on an index relative to a model Energy Star home.
The Earth Advantage program would go a few steps further, providing bars that depict a home’s actual energy use, utility costs and carbon dioxide emissions.

Good Morning Arizona!

2008-11-17T08:46:00.010-07:00

Going Green in Arizona with Flir Infrared Cameras

Geary Morris & Jerry Lawrence of American Infrared Consultants meet Javier Soto at Dan Davis's home to do an early morning Thermal Scan and find the leaks in his air ducts. Be sure to check out the latest Flir Infrared Cameras and the many applications for them at our web site Go-Infrared.com

Going Green with Jane Poynter

2008-11-17T07:43:00.006-07:00

Go Infrared is Featured on NBC KVOA Channel 4
with Jane Poynter

Geary Morris & Kyle Morris of American Infrared Consultants, visited Jane Poynter's home to do a "Thermal Scan" and find the leaks that she, or most any homeowner can mostly fix themselves. We are using a Flir Systems T-400 and a P-640 in this video. Be sure to check out the latest in cameras and the many applications for Infrared Thermal Imaging on our web site - Go-Infrared.com

Home Inspectors Go Infrared & Save Their Customers Thousands in Energy Loss

2008-10-27T09:06:00.004-07:00

Flemming Lund, owner of Infrared Diagnostic in Sudbury, conducts an energy audit.

**He's using a Flir Systems infrared camera!

SUDBURY, Mass. —

Hearing the demand to reduce escalating energy costs for homeowners and small businesses, Flemming Lund three years ago added infrared energy audits to his home inspection business, Apex Home Inspections.

That service has since become a company, Infrared Diagnostic. The Sudbury firm now conducts five energy audits for every home inspection Lund performs at Apex.

"I saw the need, got the training, purchased new equipment to detect insulation defects and holes where air enters the home and that got the ball rolling," said Lund.

Some of the air leaks - such as in recessed lighting - surprise some clients, including a Lincoln homeowner.

"Because of the opening to the outside, air rises out through the leaks," said Lund. Infrared Diagnostic performed the audit on the newer Lincoln home with 75 recessed lights.

"The house was like a sieve because there were so many penetrations in the ceiling," said Lund. "The homeowner could not keep heat in the house. He knew he had a problem, but he couldn’t figure it out. You can have two feet of insulation but if there is a possibility of air coming in, it penetrates right through the fibers."

Causes of other air leaks include plumbing penetrations, such as a vent stack that goes through the roof or a pull-down stairway in the attic.

Lund conducts the infrared energy audits and recommends contractors, who do the work. In addition to reduced energy costs, Lund said there’s another benefit to the audits.

"Once the suggested work is completed and drafts are eliminated, customers gain an increased comfort level in their homes during the heating and cooling seasons," he said.

Many Infrared Diagnostic clients chose an energy audit to get the best return on their investments when trying to reduce their energy costs. For example, a family requested an energy audit for a local home built around 1880. Cost of the audit on the 3,300-square-foot home: $525. Estimated savings on utility bills: $1,500 to $2,500 annually. The cost of energy audits are based on the age and square footage of the home.

"It’s a huge savings compared to the audit," said Lund, who is also an electrician and certified home inspector in Massachusetts. "Installing insulation and correcting air leaks gives the biggest return on investments - bigger than windows."

With every energy audit, Infrared Diagnostic provides a report with recommendations that often result in 15 to 25 percent energy savings annually. "Windows are expensive to replace, but in most cases they are not the main problem," said Lund. "Air leaks are. Many homeowners are not aware of how small the investment is to see a decrease in their utility bills."

The energy audits, Lund said, are more comprehensive than others because of the equipment he uses - a blower door test for locating air leaks and an infrared camera for detecting missing or defective insulation.

Jan Hackman called the energy audit conducted on his Hudson home "priceless."

Infrared Diagnostic performed the audit on Hackman’s 3,200-square-foot L-shaped ranch, built in 1963 with an addition put on in 1989.

"We wanted to know why we use so much energy," said Hackman. "A previous energy audit we had done left us with many questions. They told us the windows lost a lot of heat, which was not the case, Flemming’s audit showed. I wanted someone with expertise to start me on the path to get the best return on my investment.

"In the infrared audit, the windows turned out to be pretty efficient and Flemming found problems with air leaks, insulation and the like. For me, it was an eyeopener - here are the cold hard facts. Now we can start doing something about them."

Infrared Diagnostic’s report included a series of digital and infrared photographs with an explanation of different problems, including air leaks in the cathedral ceiling. "Apparently the insulation, where it touched the rafters, must have been pushed aside," said Hackman. "In one case, it showed a temperature of 39 degrees."

Infrared Diagnostic also detected leaks by the chimney in the attic, in the basement where the foundation meets the frame and in the recessed lights in the kitchen, said Hackman.

"The audit, which cost about $300, gave us a blueprint on what to do and where to go next," said Hackman. "The house will be a lot more comfortable."

For more information, visit infrareddiagnostic.com. or call 508-353-2381.

Green Building Litigation is Right Around the Corner

2008-08-21T07:08:00.003-07:00

The Anatomy of America’s First Green Building Litigation

Stephen Del Percio

August 20th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

We’ve written extensively here at gbNYC about the potential for litigation arising out of green construction projects. To date the issue has been on the radar screens of numerous industry authors, but real-life application of green legal theory has been relatively difficult to come by outside of a handful of green-related claims reported by insurance carriers. However, a (relatively) recent lawsuit that was filed on the eastern shore of Maryland demonstrates that green building risk is real- particularly in light of rapidly increasing regulatory activity at the state and local levels. The suit suggests the critical importance of clear contract language for each stakeholder on a green construction project and posits that the alternative could be massive exposure to unanticipated liability for every project participant.

Background to the Lawsuit

The lawsuit in question grew out of the construction of a $7.5 million, 23-unit condominium project in Crisfield, Maryland called the Captain’s Galley, which was completed back in 2006. The development is adjacent to a local marina on the Chesapeake Bay and includes a number of green design features that were intended to support an application to USGBC for a LEED Silver rating. Southern Builders, the general contractor on the job, filed a $54,000.00 mechanic’s lien against the project late in 2006. In early 2007, a Maryland Circuit Court both reduced the lien to $12,000.00 and consolidated a related $1.3 million countersuit initiated by the owner Shaw Development that sought, among other things, $635,000.00 in what Shaw claimed were lost tax credits under a state-level green building program.

The Tax Credits at Issue

A brief overview of Maryland’s green building tax credit program is necessary in order to understand how Shaw crafted its counterclaim against the contractor.

Maryland offers state tax credits of up to 8 percent of a project’s total cost for buildings greater than 20,000 square feet. (As a side note, the current iteration of the program has doled out all of the available tax credits and is not currently accepting additional applications). Only LEED projects are eligible to apply for the credits. The program requires applicants to first submit an Initial Credit Certificate Application to the Maryland Energy Administration.

MEA reviews the application and issues an Initial Credit Certificate which sets forth the project’s maximum credit amount and (critically for our purposes) sets an expiration date by which the project must receive a Final Credit Certificate.

Projects can only apply for the Final Credit Certificate upon receiving a certificate of occupancy after construction is complete, and a LEED-AP must submit an Eligibility Certificate to MEA stating that the building meets the criteria necessary to receive the tax credit (i.e., it meets the requirements to qualify for a LEED Silver rating). However, if the Initial Credit Certificate expires prior to the project obtaining its Final Credit Certificate, the available credits are put back into the program’s pool, the project slides back in line, and must reapply to MEA.

Captain’s Galley Contract Documents

The contract documents set forth the project’s LEED requirements in a specification section (it’s unclear exactly how those requirements were delineated, other than language in the project manual which stated that the project was “designed to comply with a Silver Certification Level according to the USGBC’s LEED Rating System, as specified in Division 1 [of the specifications.]”) It does not appear that there was language in the contract documents obligating Southern to secure any formal certification from USGBC. With respect to the tax credits, although the credits were not identified specifically in the contract (which was the AIA’s 1997 version of the A101 Owner/Contractor Agreement) or any of its attachments that were included in Shaw’s countersuit papers, Southern was required to deliver a Certificate of Occupancy within 336 calendar days from the date of the agreement.

Shaw’s Countersuit

In the countersuit, Shaw alleged claims in both negligence and breach of contract against Southern for, among other failures, the contractor’s failure to “construct an environmentally sound ‘green building’ in conformance with the LEED rating system.” However, there was no detail in Shaw’s papers describing precisely how Southern was responsible for the $635,000.00 in lost tax credits. Presumably, Southern failed to deliver the project to Shaw such that the latter could obtain a certificate of occupancy by the date specified in the Initial Credit Certificate; according to Shaw’s papers, the project remained incomplete “[n]early nine (9) months after the required completion date” (i.e., the 336 calendars specified in the A101). In addition to recovery for the lost tax credits, Shaw also sought damages for non-conforming work and loan defaults with its construction lender. The total amount in damages that Shaw sought was approximately $1.3 million. The damages it sought for the lost tax credits were the largest under any of its claims.

The Result & What Could Have Happened

Other than a few newspaper articles that mentioned the delays at the project, there has been nothing written about what appears to have been the country’s first green building litigation. Though the Circuit Court judge did set the case for trial sometime in August of 2007, it appears that the matter has since settled out of court.

The twist in the factual posture of the case is that the allegations were not that the contractor (or a design professional or consultant) failed to secure formal certification from USGBC, as much of the literature written to date in the liability context suggests will be the feeding ground for potential litigation. Rather, it was the failure by both the owner and the contractor to recognize the risk implicated by the regulatory scheme that led to the claimed loss of tax credits. The contract documents included as exhibits to the court papers were devoid of any risk transfer mechanisms whatsoever with respect to securing the tax credits. A tight contract that recognized the risk of failing to complete the project on schedule would have (1) assisted the contractor in determining whether it was capable of bearing a significant portion of that risk and (2) provided the owner some level of assurance that in the event the contractor could not deliver the project as required in order to secure the tax credits, it would still have the ability to assert a breach of contract claim for that specific failure.

Form Contracts Won’t Fly! gbNYC’s Top 5 Legal Issues for Green Construction Projects in Action

The critical lesson from the lawsuit is that there is no one-size-fits-all form agreement for a green construction project. The case also demonstrates the absolute necessity of two of my five most important legal issues to consider on green construction projects. First, a thorough understanding of existing legislation that may apply to a green project is critical. Retaining counsel that understands the regulatory landscape and can assist stakeholders in managing the risk that it implicates, regardless of which side of the table they may find themselves, is key. This point is becoming increasingly salient as more municipalities legislate green initiatives and third-party rating systems continue to evolve and proliferate. Second, the possible failure on the contractor’s part (and probably the owner’s as well) to translate the procedure for securing the LEED-driven tax credits into the contract documents exposed both sides to unanticipated liability. Indeed, the lack of any disclaiming language in the contract- or any indication that the contractor attempted to shift some of the risk off of itself- is perhaps indicative of where green liability may actually exist.

Conclusion: Insurance & Other Implications Moving Forward

Sustainability is changing the risk management equation and the Shaw case will likely go down as just the very tip of the iceberg. Again, the lawsuit demonstrates the danger for contractors, owners, and design professionals to simply rely on form construction agreements on green projects. Although the claim was asserted by the contractor, a slight twist in the facts could have just as easily resulted in the suit being asserted against the architect, engineer, or LEED consultant. While owners obviously want to get their projects out of the ground as quickly as possible, and given the deteriorating economic conditions here in the U.S., contractors and design professionals may feel pressure to sign up for work quickly, Shaw Development v. Southern Builders teaches caution during the course of negotiations for green construction work.

The lawsuit also raises some important insurance implications. Could the contractor’s commercial general liability policy have provided coverage for the owner’s claim for the lost tax credits? CGL policies typically only cover property damage, so it seems highly unlikely. From the owner’s perspective, if there was a waiver of consequential damages provision in the contract documents (which is unclear from the Shaw court papers), the owner would have a difficult time arguing that its claimed damages for the lost tax credits should not be considered consequential.

The potential lack of insurance coverage for this type of claim demands its own discussion, but it suffices to say that the insurance industry is examining these issues closely to determine whether an endorsement for green projects might be necessary. In fact, a recent report prepared by Marsh called The Green Built Environment in the United States: The State of the Insurance Marketplace evaluated not only property insurance policies, but how the insurance industry is considering professional liability, pollution liability, builder’s and owner’s risk insurance, surety bonds, and casualty coverage in the context of green risk management.

Please let me know if you’d like more information on the case and I’d be happy to pass along the materials that I was able to dig up online. Feel free to chime in below if there are any other legal issues arising out of the Shaw fact pattern that deserve discussion.

There's a Lot of Money to be made in Green Building

2008-07-28T12:29:00.005-07:00

**That is if it's "Really" Green!

'Green' building is expected to grow

Researchers from McGraw-Hill Construction say it will be worth $12 billion to $20 billion this year, or 6$ to 10% of the market.

July 27, 2008

If the interest in all things green is a fad, it's a fad with legs, according to builders included in a recent survey.

Research from McGraw-Hill Construction suggests that broadly defined "green" building is expected to be worth $12 billion to $20 billion this year, or 6% to 10% of the market. That's expected to double in five years, according to the researchers.

Along the way, the LEED acronym (it stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is becoming increasingly familiar to consumers: More than 1,500 buildings have received LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council since the program was introduced in 2000, and more than 11,000 are seeking the designation, according to the council, a nonprofit that administers the program.

LEED attempts to quantify sustainable site development, water usage, energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality and other "green" factors.

Recently, the council announced plans to expand LEED certification to subdivisions and neighborhoods. The neighborhood designation has been a pilot program for about a year and will expand in earnest in mid-2009, according to a spokesman for the council.

--

Mary Umberger
LA Times

The only way to confirm and actually verify that your home or LEED certified building is what they say it is, ... Insulated & Energy Efficient, is to use Infrared Thermography. These buildings should be scanned to confirm their thermal barriers. Stop throwing away Money through Gaps, Holes and complete Voids of insulation in your walls and ceilings. Only a Thermal Scan can tell you the truth about the tightness of your building.

It Can't be "Certified" Unless it's Infrared Certified!!

2008-07-10T13:04:00.003-07:00

Thursday, July 10, 2008 - 2:39 PM EDT

Changes proposed to LEED certification make energy savings a priority

**LEED properties are currently NOT scanned with Infrared. Without a professional Infrared Thermal Scan, a LEED building is NOT fully certified.

Developers of commercial buildings would have to abide by a new set of rules to get LEED certification under changes being considered by the U.S. Green Building Council.

The new rules would streamline the process for achieving LEED certification and put greater emphasis on saving energy and reducing carbon emissions.

"The credits were re-weighted to encourage people to go after those that are going to change the building's performance," said Judith Webb, a spokeswoman for the U.S. GBC in Washington, D.C.

A 30-day public comment period on the proposed rules ended in late June. Another comment period will begin sometime in August. The changes would ultimately have to be approved by the 16,000-plus members of the U.S. GBC. That vote could occur in October.

If approved, the new rules would take effect in January.

Rick Pfielsticker, a LEED-accredited architect at Einhorn Yaffee & Prescott in Albany, N.Y., said the changes would bring the point system in line with the push toward improving energy efficiency.

"The way energy costs have risen, this is a good thing," Pfielsticker said.

EYP has designed nearly a dozen buildings that have received LEED certification, he said. Many more meet the U.S. GBC standards but developers don't want to pay the fees to become certified, he said.

LEED certification was created in 2000 to recognize buildings that reduce energy and water consumption, improve indoor air quality and promote sustainable site development. Points are awarded based on a number of factors. The greater the point total, the more prestigious the designation. Platinum is the highest rung on the ladder.

More than 1,500 buildings have received certification, and more than 11,000 are seeking it.

Certifications are available in eight categories: new construction, existing buildings, commercial interiors, core and shell, retail, schools, health care and homes. Another category, for neighborhood developments, is in the pilot stage.

Under the proposed changes, the maximum points available in each of the seven commercial categories would be 110 (the changes would not affect the home category).

In order to attain certification for new construction, a project would need 40 points. Silver would require 50 points, gold 60 points and platinum 80 points, according to Webb.

Under the current system, the maximum for new construction is 69 points; LEED certification is awarded for 26 points.

NAHB Wants Your "Green", ... to Go Green!$$$

2008-07-10T12:58:00.002-07:00

July 10, 2008 - Testifying today on behalf of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) before a House Small Business Committee hearing on “The Role of Green Technologies in Spurring Economic Growth,” Cincinnati builder Andrea Lucke urged Congress to extend the New Energy Efficient Home Credit, which was enacted in 2005 and expires at the end of the year.

“The nation’s home builders have the ability to profoundly affect sustainability and conserve precious natural resources and our environment,” Lucke said. NAHB members build about 80 percent of the new housing units in the United States.

Lucke, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati and vice president of Robert Lucke Homes, also updated hearing participants on the progress of the NAHB National Green Building Program and the new National Green Building Standard.

The tax credit “is a key market incentive that shifts builders towards significant energy savings in new home construction,” she said. “The program allows a $2,000 tax credit to a home builder who constructs a qualified new energy-efficient home, certified to achieve a 50 percent reduction in energy usage, thereby adding a highly efficient home that will likely remain part of the nation’s housing stock for 60 years or more.”

To encourage more builders to construct more energy-efficient housing, Lucke also urged members of Congress to increase the amount of the tax credit to pay for a bigger percentage of the higher building costs that are incurred when making a home 50 percent more energy-efficient.

Tax incentives work because they are market driven, Lucke said, and they are a much more effective approach than mandates.

“With a tax credit, important production decisions are still reserved for builders, buyers and home owners. Consequently, a tax credit program costs little to operate and does not require expensive administrative oversight that is usually associated with a mandate,” she said. “As Congress continues to look for ways to promote energy efficiency and sustainability, NAHB urges it to use incentives, rather than mandates, to encourage the growth of green technologies.”

Energy Audit using Flir Infrared Camera

2008-06-22T16:50:00.001-07:00

Find Air Conditioning Failure, ... Before it Fails!

2008-06-19T07:41:00.004-07:00

This normal looking Air Conditioning condenser is only 4 years old and still under the builders warranty. The system has been ineffective in cooling the home. Several HVAC tech's had checked the system and only attempted to "Over Charge" it with coolant. (Freon11)
We were asked to perform a Thermal Scan of the building envelope but during the Scan, we noticed issues with the Air conditioning system and with the condenser.

In the next Thermal image, you will see a distinct band of heat surrounding the middle of the condenser. This is a blockage in the coil and there is no circulation occurring. We reported this to our customer, who in turn reported this to the Builders. As a result, this system was replaced under the warranty and a new system was installed.

**The cooling fan was running so hot that it was nearly at melt down point!

Additions to Homes, ... Not Insulated!?

2008-06-18T09:21:00.002-07:00

Here is the exterior wall of a home "Addition". It looked great visually but, as you can see in the Infrared Thermal Scan, the entire exterior wall was not insulated. The original wall to the right of the lamp was insulated. Home Buyers beware of homes with so called "Additions" or Remodels. All is not what it seems. Have the property Thermal Scanned prior to purchase

U.S. Department of Energy - Thermal Scans

2008-06-18T08:46:00.000-07:00

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

A Consumer's Guide to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Thermographic Inspections

Energy auditors may use thermography-or infrared scanning-to detect thermal defects and air leakage in building envelopes.

How They Work

Thermography measures surface temperatures by using infrared video and still cameras. These tools see light that is in the heat spectrum. Images on the video or film record the temperature variations of the building's skin, ranging from white for warm regions to black for cooler areas. The resulting images help the auditor determine whether insulation is needed. They also serve as a quality control tool, to ensure that insulation has been installed correctly.

A thermographic inspection is either an interior or exterior survey. The energy auditor decides which method would give the best results under certain weather conditions. Interior scans are more common, because warm air escaping from a building does not always move through the walls in a straight line. Heat loss detected in one area of the outside wall might originate at some other location on the inside of the wall. Also, it is harder to detect temperature differences on the outside surface of the building during windy weather. Because of this difficulty, interior surveys are generally more accurate because they benefit from reduced air movement.

Thermographic scans are also commonly used with a blower door test running. The blower door helps exaggerate air leaking through defects in the building shell. Such air leaks appear as black streaks in the infrared camera's viewfinder.

Thermography uses specially designed infrared video or still cameras to make images (called thermograms) that show surface heat variations. This technology has a number of applications. Thermograms of electrical systems can detect abnormally hot electrical connections or components. Thermograms of mechanical systems can detect the heat created by excessive friction. Energy auditors use thermography as a tool to help detect heat losses and air leakage in building envelopes.

Infrared scanning allows energy auditors to check the effectiveness of insulation in a building's construction. The resulting thermograms help auditors determine whether a building needs insulation and where in the building it should go. Because wet insulation conducts heat faster than dry insulation, thermographic scans of roofs can often detect roof leaks.

In addition to using thermography during an energy audit, you should have a scan done before purchasing a house; even new houses can have defects in their thermal envelopes. You may wish to include a clause in the contract requiring a thermographic scan of the house. A thermographic scan performed by a certified technician is usually accurate enough to use as documentation in court proceedings.

The energy auditor may use one of several types of infrared sensing devices in an on-site inspection. A spot radiometer (also called a point radiometer) is the simplest. It measures radiation one spot at a time, with a simple meter reading showing the temperature of a given spot. The auditor pans the area with the device and notes the differences in temperature. A thermal line scanner shows radiant temperature viewed along a line. The thermogram shows the line scan superimposed over a picture of the panned area. This process shows temperature variations along the line. The most accurate thermographic inspection device is a thermal imaging camera, which produces a 2-dimensional thermal picture of an area showing heat leakage. Spot radiometers and thermal line scanners do not provide the necessary detail for a complete home energy audit. Infrared film used in a conventional camera is not sensitive enough to detect heat loss.

Preparing for a Thermographic Inspection

To prepare for an interior thermal scan, the homeowner should take steps to ensure an accurate result. This may include moving furniture away from exterior walls and removing drapes. The most accurate thermographic images usually occur when there is a large temperature difference (at least 20°F [14°C]) between inside and outside air temperatures. In northern states, thermographic scans are generally done in the winter. In southern states, however, scans are usually conducted during warm weather with the air conditioner on.

He See's The Light!

2008-06-03T06:23:00.001-07:00

Green is All About the Money!

Will building green net you green?

2008-06-02T10:42:00.002-07:00

More people are going green when renovating their homes, but they're basing their choices on "perceived value" rather than hard numbers. But the market is growing and is expected to continue to grow.

The 2007 McGraw-Hill Construction SmartMarket Report on Attitudes & Preferences for Remodeling and Buying Green Homes predicts that green preferences will boost the “true” green home market to $20 billion by 2010 from $2 billion in 2005.

The variety of reasons people buy green homes is huge. The top four reasons given by the participants in the McGraw-Hill study are operational cost savings (90 percent), environmental concerns (84 percent), occupant health (82 percent) and potential higher resale value (73 percent). Green renovation is also steadily growing in popularity. Nearly 40 percent of home remodeling is being done green, the study reports. The most-used green products for home remodeling projects are new or replacement windows (47 percent), HVAC (heating, ventilation and air-conditioning) systems (44 percent) and new window equipment or hardware (32 percent).

So making green choices when remodeling has, at the very least, the potential to save the homeowner money in energy and other costs. And going green doesn't have to mean making large wholesale changes.

Call American Infrared Consultants for more Information (520) 325-3777

Noisy Hotel = No Insulation

2008-06-02T10:00:00.004-07:00

A 4-Star hotel in the Dallas area was getting numerous complaints from its guests. The Hotel was only a few months old and the guests were complaining that sounds from the adjacent rooms were clearly audible.
In other words, ... It Was Too Noisy!
This was not a Motel 6, and the room rates of $200.0+ per night certainly justify a complaint about next door neighbors.
A Thermal Scan was performed and it was found that nearly 85% of "All" of the rooms had insulation failure. That is incredible! I mean 85%!
Needless to say, the original contractor was called back and a major retro fit was begun.

So, as a building owner or one who has just built a new commercial building or home, ... Do you have the Insulation that you paid for?

Verify it with a Thermal Scan from American Infrared Consultants. (520) 325-3777

Saying It's Green doesn't make it Green!

2008-06-01T15:52:00.003-07:00

Energy Efficiency needs to be "Verified", not just talked about.

How do you know that your "Energy Award" home is really insulated properly? Do you trust the builder?, ... The Seller?, ... The Marketing Hype?
No, you need to trust your eyes and the skill of a Certified Infrared Thermographer.

As you can see from these infrared images, taken with a Flir Systems T-400 thermal imaging camera, there are numerous sections of missing or inadequate insulation. Is this what you paid for? Energy efficient homes are real and a properly insulated home should be the norm, not the exception. As the consumer, expect more. Expect to get what you pay for.
Have a Thermal Scan performed on your home and Verify that it is properly insulated.
If your home is less than 4 years old, call for a Thermal Scan. Missing insulation is a Latent defect, thus making the Builder responsible.
Why pay the extra energy costs because of a defective product.
go to : www.AmericanInfraredConsultants.com

Air Conditioning Costs in an Arizona Summer! $$$

2008-05-30T12:36:00.002-07:00

Here is a home we inspected and found an entire upper section of an exterior wall to have ZERO insulation!? How can this be you ask? This was an "Energy Award" home!! When looking at the wall visually, it looks normal. When our Thermographer performed a "Themal-Scan", he found this section of nearly 23' linear feet, to be completely void of insulation.

This particular home had been advertised as "Green" and "Energy Award", with "Loads of Extra Insulation"!

We think not.

Only a "Thermal-Scan" performed by American Infrared Consultants Certified thermographers can find problems like this. Call us, ... before you buy!

How "Green" is Your Green Energy Home???

2008-05-30T12:20:00.002-07:00

As you can see in these thermal images, taken with a Flir Infrared camera, the exterior wall in the master bedroom is missing 2 full sections of insulation.

This was advertised as an "Energy Guaranteed" home! So, what do You think?
Call American Infrared Consultants today (520) 325-3777

Is your Home "Really" Energy Efficient?!

2008-05-30T11:01:00.002-07:00

Flir Infrared technology allows the Certified Thermographers at American Infrared Consultants to find the missing insulation that You, ... the Homeowner, thought you had paid for.

These Infrared images were taken at a 2007 "Energy Award" home. Note the exterior wall cell with a complete void of insulation, as well as the Ceiling area where a full 24" x 54" section was empty of insulation!!

What do you think their Air Conditioning bills will be?? $$

San Diego Fires - November 2007

2008-05-30T08:38:00.001-07:00

American Infrared Consultants were called out to the San Diego County area to evaluate numerous structures damaged during the November 2007 fire disaster. Using Flir Infrared cameras, we evaluated many residential structures for several Insurance companies. It was both incredibly sad and fascinating at the same time.

Whole neighborhoods were affected with multiple homes in a row burned out, while a lone home was completely unaffected. These are just a few of our photos.