Joe Davis and Sid Frederick own an innovative passive solar home on 40 acres that is "off the grid" in the Santa Cruz mountains, using no energy from PG&E. Built in 1983, it has passive solar heating, solar water heating, photovoltaic electricity and two backup propane heating systems. A giant central skylight provides passive cooling and day-lighting.
Our job was to calculate the energy and carbon savings of the home and objectively describe its green features compared to a conventional new home, in a report to be shown to potential buyers. Using the architect's building plans, we created a simulation of the home's energy consumption and calculated the energy contributions of the three different solar systems and the two backup systems. We were able to show that the home uses less than half the external sources of energy of a brand new conventional home built to stringent new standards, using a type of analysis approved by the state of California. Despite already being very efficient, we were able to make recommendations to cut energy use even further. This showcase home stands as a model of what can be achieved to cut energy and carbon use at modest extra cost and no sacrifice in comfort and convenience. As home buyers become more concerned with operating costs and their carbon footprint, there will be more need for energy audits and for EcoBrokers®, like the Realtor® who owns this house. Read the complete report.
Former
Mayor and current Councilman of the City of
Santa Cruz, Don Lane, is an advocate of
municipal programs to combat global warming.
He took the lesson "Think globally, act
locally" to its natural conclusion by asking
us to inspect his own home for potential
energy savings, even though his PG&E bills
were already low. Built in the 1920s, the
home has opportunities for adding insulation
in the walls and attic, and sealing leaks.
We also identified a furnace and water
heater that were at the end of their lives
and needing replacement. We found air
leaks in a furnace closet, window frames and
a fireplace damper. That's leadership
in action.
Read the complete report.
A
client family in the
San Lorenzo Valley
heats their home
with wood and a
conventional forced
air gas furnace.
They were unaware
that leaky ducts in
the crawlspace were
leaking a third of
their heated air to
the outdoors, a
total waste of money
and carbon. We also
discovered that
persistent moisture
in the crawl space
was corroding the
ducts and making the
home excessively
humid, encouraging
mildew growth and
condensation on
windows and
threatening the
health of the
family. Our
recommendations
included sealing the
ground in the crawl
space with a
reinforced plastic
barrier to prevent
moisture intrusion
and repairing the
ductwork, making the
home healthier and
safer to live in as
well as reducing
energy losses. By
testing with the
Energy Conservatory
Blower Door, we
found that the home
also leaks a lot of
air through missing
weather stripping, a
water heater closet,
and window frames.
Sealing leaks like
these takes a
specialist just a
few hours and
generates a stream
of savings that will
last as long as the
home.
Read the complete
report. 
Christian
Forthomme is an
international
consultant who
trains executives of
multinational
corporations to
shift their
corporate strategies
towards
sustainability. To
make his own coastal
home more
sustainable and
install a new
central heating
system in the most
efficient manner he
ordered our energy
audit. Analyst
Rick Meyer, assisted
by a performance
contractor,
discovered that
several rooms in the
oldest part of the
house had never been
insulated.
Previous attempts to
control moisture in
the crawl space were
inadequate,
necessitating
installation of a
ground moisture
barrier. Much
of the heated air
was escaping
through excessive
leakage. We
developed a plan of
phased improvements
that will permit
installation of a
smaller and more
efficient heating
system than would
have otherwise been
installed. We also
provided guidance on
using a cool roof
coating on a third
story office that
overheats in the
summer.
Read the complete
report. THIS SECTION IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
- This page contains case studies showing how analysts at Home Energy Saving Analysts have helped homeowners like you in a highly individualized way. The descriptions and reports are all used with clients' written permission. Reports have been redacted to protect clients' privacy.
We develop an energy savings plan for you like the ones described on this page, that is responsive to your needs and contains our measurements and inspection report.