Blower Door

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Ed Fako

Just recently things have picked up. I actually had the guys on a 2 week lay-off during July for the first summer lay-off in 25 years.

I just last week made contact with a Mr. Michael Lotesta of www.Performance-Exteriors.com due to folowing the BPI Link and accredited instructors regarding Energy Audits and he just so happens to operate out of the town right next to where I live.

My eyes are opening up to additional business possibilities that you had previously suggested during our Ventilation discussions.

Thanks,

Ed

Good luck!! I think you have the smarts to make a go of it!! Have a look at the CANAM website and give Tony Woods a call....he's got one whack of experience in the field!!

In 1981, when I took my first energy auditor training/certification in Brunswick, Maine (at the college that Marcel Cyr seems to be constantly re-building), there was a gent in the class from Chicago who worked for a company that were using blower doors and infrared....way back then.....1981. The company's name was Potential Energy Incorporated......ever hear of it??

[Ed Fako]

Never heard of them and they did not pop up on Google, but thats a long time ago.

They may have changed their name for marketing purposes or the market was not viable at that time, although that would have been right after the 1978 oil embargo and gas shortages.

Yes, I remember the alternate days to be able to purchase gasoline and the rationed limits for a short period of time back then.

Ed

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by Ed Fako

Another resource to check out.

http://www.bpi.org/

Ed

Hi Ed:

Funny how things happen, especially coincidences!!!

You referred us to BPI of which I've known the Chairman, Laverne Dalgleish, whom I met in 1988 while in training in Winnipeg.

Today, I had a meeting/consultation with an environmentally sensitive person from Winnipeg who is in our area to buy a spring/summer/fall home to be near the ocean where she gets some relief. Her Winnipeg home has been giving her problems this late winter/spring but she hasn't been able to find anyone there to check it out. At the end my consultation with her, she flat out looked at me and asked me "Would I come to Winnipeg to inspect and give a # of recommendations about her house in regards to environmental issues, moisture, mould prevention, etc.?" She would pay the flight out and back here.... about 2500 miles, one way!!!

I said "I have a better idea! I know a couple of people out there that I can refer you to.......if they can'/won't do the work, they'll know the right people to refer you to there, if available. I gave the Dalgleish name which she didn't know but the second name was the facilitator/trainer I knew for the ' House-as-a-System" Train-the-Trainer course for the National Energy Conservation Association (NECA) which Dagleish was head of then.

She already had the trainer's name, John H., and had talked to him twice but he could not get to her place for 3 months or so!!! Small world!!!

So I still may get a cross country trip to Winnipeg. The world is getting much smaller!!! Can't believe that within 3 days this name 20 from years ago and 1/2 a continent away would re-appear again as it has a few other times.

[Ed Fako]

That is really Cool!!!

I would venture to guess that old names from that emerging field will be getting thrown in the hat a bit more frequently in the near future with energy costs continuing to escalate.

Ed

[Kenton H. Shepard, CMI]

If you'll be looking at new homes, you'll be doing Energy Rating and the requirements and what you do are very clearly established.

If you'll be looking at existing homes, you'll be doing energy audits and have much more leeway in what you do. In many states, energy auditors aren't regulated and what service is provided varies among energy auditors.

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by kshepard

If you'll be looking at new homes, you'll be doing Energy Rating and the requirements and what you do are very clearly established.

If you'll be looking at existing homes, you'll be doing energy audits and have much more leeway in what you do. In many states, energy auditors aren't regulated and what service is provided varies among energy auditors.

Kenton:

In Canada, we're energy rating both new and old homes with essentially the same program (it's been toned done for older homes ; will be more accurate with a new home due to having plans and all the particulars), using blower doors, detailed meausurements, house orientation, etc, etc.

[Yuri Olhovsky]

Originally Posted by Brian A. MacNeish

In Canada, we're energy rating both new and old homes with essentially the same program

Except that there is a government Grant to stimulate energy retrofits in older houses under the ECO energy program compared to no incentive for the builders on the ENERGY STAR program for new houses.

[sblayney]

Energy Ratings on new houses are really a load of BS, its like labeling a product with an energy sticker, unless the home is self sufficient. Most Energy Advisors can improve on the energy efficiency of any newly built home by at least 5-10 points which is normally quite a bit.

There is no restriction to age of homes that get an energy audit done. A home can be 1 year old or 100 years old, the evaluation is done the same way and the grants are no different. As long as the equipment that is being replaced is better than what exists. The Ecoenergy retrofit program is geared for houses that are 15 years or older but I have performed Evals on new houses.

Every pre and post retrofit requires door blower results submitted to NRCan.

Hope this comment helps!

[Rodney Misener]

Originally Posted by yolhovsky

Except that there is a government Grant to stimulate energy retrofits in older houses under the ECO energy program compared to no incentive for the builders on the ENERGY STAR program for new houses.

Yuri,

The is an incentive for the Energide for New Houses and R2000 programs in Canada. See below:

EnerGuide rating of 77 or higher - the cost of the EnerGuide registration will be rebated to the builder or the homeowner, depending on who paid the initial registration fee.
Energuide rating of 80 or higher* - The homeowner will receive an additional $500.
Building R-2000?* - The homeowner is entitled to a $1,000 rebate.

[Rodney Misener]

Here's some more incentives under the EnerGuide for New Houses and R2000 program:

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) offers a 10% rebate on the premium of your mortgage loan insurance if your home is either an R2000 home or has an EnerGuide rating of at least 77.

Operating cost reductions - Each year you will spend less to keep warm in your new home. In the long run that adds up to huge tax free savings, savings that grow each time the price of energy increases.

[Joe Farsetta]

My suggestion, prior to investing in a blower door, is to read a bit first.

I have read that they will no longer be recommended due to their negative effects on IAQ.

[sblayney]

Any rumbles or rumors being past around in legislation regarding extensions or renewals of the current program.

[sblayney]

IAQ - what is this?

[Rodney Misener]

Originally Posted by jfarsetta

My suggestion, prior to investing in a blower door, is to read a bit first.

I have read that they will no longer be recommended due to their negative effects on IAQ.

Joe,

Do you have any links or articles on this? I'd be interested to read on it. I haven't heard this come up yet.

[sblayney]

Regards to Indoor Air Quality - Most door blower test are performed by sucking the air out, but if IAQ is an issue in a home such as an unsubstantiated fear of vermiculite in the home the fan can be reversed so the air is actually sucked in, but this is a very rare case. If a door blower is not done it must be documented on the data collection forms as to why and the client must sign off agreeing to this.
I would opt to not running the fan.
I would like to see those links on those articles.

Cheers.