Residential Comfort & Energy Efficiency

Did you know that when you participate in a Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® project that the results are actually measurable?

Learn how getting an energy audit through the program uses a special air leakage test to determine where your home leaks the most!

Is there any other home improvement project that when it is all said and done you can actually test and get immediate, unbiased results? 

I can't think of any!

Maryland Replacement Windows

Let's take Maryland replacement windows as an example. 

Often times windows are replaced around a Maryland home to improve comfort and reduce drafts.  But, results are typically subjective and more times than not there is a walk away feeling for both the homeowner and contractor that the windows did not really perform, but there is not much anyone can do at that point.

What is Home Performance?

Home performance work on the other hand is principled in science, proven by testing and solved by targeting the right areas of the home that leak the most.

ANALOGY: If a jet is not able to take off from the runway, do you want the airline company mechanic to just fix a perceived issue and give it a whirl, or would you rather the technician employ diagnostic tools, real time onboard computer information and proper calculations to get the plane back in the air? 

Of course we all want the more informed approach to ensure our safe return to flight.  The same should be said for solving complex home comfort issues.

So how does this work in home performance you ask?  How can we be sure to target the right connections to the outside in a home so that we can get the results we want?
 

The blower door test! 
 

The blower door test is an air leakage test - for your whole home, not just a door.  

A great benefit of a blower door test is that the homeowner and the contractor can walk around together and physically inspect the house while the test is running to discover the leakage points in a physical sense - rather than in a hypothetical sense.

Participation in the air leakage test can have a profound effect. Seeing air flowing through areas of the house that you would not have ever thought can empower you to make good replacement window choices in Maryland.
 

Watch the blower door test reveal how leaky this light fixture happens to be...

 

How We Reduced this Home's Air Leakage by 30% - Not a Single Window Was Replaced

One great example of a home that made huge gains in comfort, reduced drafts and overall energy usage was a home in which not a single window was replaced.  The results from the air leakage test were huge and the customer noticed a difference the first day.

Here are the blower door results as seen on the gauge used to measure the home's air leakage.  Notice the number on the right from 4318 cubic feet per minute down to 3049 cubic feet per minute.

 

 

The results show a roughly 30% reduction in the leakage of this home. 

This means that actual holes in the home's shell were proper sealed and the results have been measured through diagnostic testing.

So, what did we do to treat this house and make huge gains on reducing air leakage you ask?

CRAWL SPACE ENCAPSULATION!!

Next Steps
 

Considering Maryland Replacement Windows?
Not sure if windows will solve your problem?  

Get a home energy audit with blower door test & get questions answered such as:

What areas should I seal to reduce drafts?

Why are my new windows feeling drafty?

How much insulation do I need in my attic?

How do I properly vent my crawl space?

Should I remove old insulation from my attic?

What is the best way to seal my crawl space?

Is spray foam insulation the best solution for my home?

Should I insulate the walls in my home?
 

In Maryland BGE Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Here

In Maryland Pepco Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Here
 

For only $100 through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program - I am qualified to get all of the answers for you!