Energetechs’ Passive Solar Advice on HGTV-Pro

We were honored recently to receive a call from Kara Wahlgren, a writer for HGTVPro.com. She found our web-site when she searched the internet for a Passive Solar Design Consultant. Kara had a number of questions for our Passive Solar Design expert, Andy Lemann, for an article she was writing on Energy Efficient Windows. Here’s a brief excerpt from the her article…

“…the growing trend of passive solar design allows homeowners to harness the sun’s energy without spending a fortune or cluttering their property with solar-energy collectors. Instead, the key to a successful passive solar design is a strategic approach to installing windows.”

Click on the link below to read the full article or CLICK HERE to visit the HGTVPro.com website which contains a wealth of information aimed at homebuilding professionals.

http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/di_green_sustainable/article/0,2618,HPRO_20616_6025009,00.html

SeriousWindows for Passive Solar Design

Energetechs recently became a dealer for SeriousWindows, the most energy efficient windows made in North America. These windows are perfectly suited to Passive Solar design because every window that Serious sells comes with the option for either Low-gain or High-gain glass.

One of the beautiful things about Passive Solar Design is that, when it’s done right, it keeps a home warmer in the winter AND cooler in the summer. To achieve this we rely on very high performance windows that have very low U-values (high R-values) and SHGC’s (Solar Heat Gain Coefficients) that are tunable to different orientations. Here’s another quote from Kara’s article…

“…Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC). The SHGC measures how much solar heat comes through the window. Lemann recommends a high SHGC on south-facing windows; they’ll let heat in during winter months and proper shading will keep the sun out during summer months. On all other walls, opt for a low SHGC. “It’s difficult to shade windows on the west side because the sun comes in so low — so that’s when you want a window that doesn’t let too much heat through…” (i.e. a window with a low SHGC).

Selecting Energy Efficient Windows

For this reason we always encourage our clients to select the most high-performance windows they can afford. To help with the decision making process we have put together a Window Comparison Spreadsheet that directly compares U-values, R-values, SHGCs, and Prices for High-Performance Windows from a variety of different manufacturers. CLICK HERE to view our Window Comparison Chart.

Or contact us if you have any questions about Passive Solar Design or Energy Efficient Windows.

Energetechs, 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, MT, 59802 (406) 721 2741

Energytechs Missoula Montana

Many people think that the Missoula, Montana business called Energetechs is spelled Energytechs

So, if you’re looking for Montana’s building energy efficiency experts, you’ve come to the right place.

We invite you to click on any of the menu items at the top of the page and explore our extensive range of services and products to help you improve your building’s energy efficiency.

We don’t care if you call us Energetechs or Energytechs or Energetics or anything else. We  do care about helping you save money, improve the comfort and durability of your home, and do the right thing for the environment.

Please send us a message via the contact form on the right or call us at (406) 721 2741 or stop by and visit us at 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, Montana, 59801.

Energetics Missoula Montana

Many people think that the Missoula, Montana business called Energetechs is spelled Energetics

So, if you’re looking for Montana’s building energy efficiency experts, you’ve come to the right place.

We invite you to click on any of the menu items at the top of the page and explore our extensive range of services and products to help you improve your building’s energy efficiency.

We don’t care if you call us Energetechs or Energytechs or Energetics or anything else. We do care about helping you save money, improve the comfort and durability of your home, and do the right thing for the environment.

Please send us a message via the contact form on the right or call us at (406) 721 2741 or stop by and visit us at 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, Montana, 59801.

Passive House Certification

Energetechs now has Montana’s first and only Certified Passive House Consultant!

After going through a rigorous training process we can now proudly say that our very own Tom Hellem has become Montana’s first Certified Passive House Consultant. This qualifies Tom to Certify homes under the Passive House Institute program.

Tom received extensive instruction in the principles of Passive House Design and in the use of the Passive House Planning Package software that is used to certify homes under the program.

Tom has been a builder of high-quality and energy efficient homes for over 35 years. During this time he has become increasingly aware of the vital importance of reducing the energy consumption of buildings in order to limit their overall environmental impact.

“Energy Efficiency is the first priority when building a green and sustainable home, and Passive House Certification is the best way to ensure superior energy performance”, said Tom after receiving his certification from the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS).

A Certified Passive House uses about 90% less energy than a standard-built house of the same size. So the potential energy savings over the life of the home are enormous. And, since the energy consumed by a building durings its “life” constitutes by far the largest portion of its overall environmental impact, Certified Passive Houses are much, much better for the environment.

If you would like to learn more about our Passive House Design and Certified Passive House Consultant services in Missoula, Montana, please feel free to contact us by clicking on the link below or using the form at the top right of this page.

CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, MT, 59801 – ph.406.721.2741

Who are we?

Energetechs is a team of people dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of buildings. We have been in business for over 21 years and our staff has a combined total of over 100 years in the GREEN BUILDING field. Our expertise ranges from general construction and building science to ENERGY AUDITS,  PASSIVE HOUSE DESIGN, EXPERT WITNESS services, and ENERGY MODELING.

CLICK HERE to MEET THE TEAM, and please CONTACT US for a free consultation regarding your building energy efficiency needs.

CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, MT, 59801 – ph.406.721.2741 – info@energetechs.com

What do we do?

Energetechs is committed to building energy efficiency. We offer a wide range of services aimed at helping our customers and clients reduce their energy use, utility bills, and environmental footprint.

Our highly trained and experienced staff can provide sound and in-depth advice on every aspect of building energy efficiency, from CONSULTING with architects and builders on ENERGY EFFICIENT DESIGN of new buildings to performing BLOWER DOOR TESTS and INFRARED CAMERA ANALYSIS on existing buildings. We have expert knowledge of MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, PASSIVE SOLAR DESIGN, building science, and GREEN BUILDING CERTIFICATIONS.

We also sell a number of PRODUCTS specifically for energy efficient construction.

We invite you to explore this website to learn more about the many things we do or CONTACT US directly and we’ll be more than happy to chat with you about your energy efficiency needs.

CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, MT, 59801 – ph.406.721.2741 – info@energetechs.com

Energy Audit, Missoula, MT

Energetechs has been performing Energy Audits in the Missoula, MT area for 21 years!

What is an energy audit?
An energy audit is a type of home inspection that focuses primarily on the energy that a building uses for heating and cooling. The main areas of interest to the Energy Auditor are the insulation, the windows, the mechanical system, and the air tightness of the structure.

How can you test the insulation?
The best way to test the insulation in an existing home is with an Infrared Camera. It’s like an x-ray for your home and allows us to see what’s happening behind the drywall. We can see where insulation is missing or inadequate and we can very clearly see where air is leaking into and out of the building.

The Thermal Image above was taken with an Infrared Camera during an Energy Audit and clearly shows where insulation is missing and air is leaking at the top of the wall behind the drywall. Without the infrared camer it is impossible to see what’s really going on in the hidden parts of your home.

Why is air-tightness important?
Air tightness is critical for an energy efficient structure and goes hand-in-hand with good insulation. You can’t achieve good energy performance without both of these working together. Insulation without good air sealing is like being out on a cold windy day in a thick blanket that has a bunch of holes in it. It’s not going to keep you warm. Similarly, air-tightness without insulation is like being out on a cold windy day wrapped only in a garbage bag. It’s not going to keep you warm either. Everyone knows that you need good insulation in a home but air-leakage is the hidden thief that can rob a home of a great deal of heat. The way to find him is with an Energy Audit.

How does an Energy Audit measure air tightness?
We use a special piece of equipment called a Blower Door to test how much air is moving through the shell (or envelope) of the building. During a Blower Door Test we measure the amount of air that we have to blow out of the building to reach a negative pressure of -50Pa. While the blower door is running we go around the home with the Infrared Camera and we can easily spot all of the places where air is leaking into the building. These can then be sealed up to help improve the overall Energy Performance.

The picture above shows one of our Energy Auditors performing a Blower Door Test on a home. The red tent seals the doorway while the fan blows air out of the house and calibrated gauges measure the pressure and amount of air flow. This tells us exactly how much air-leakage there is through the building structure.

What are the benefits of an Energy Audit in Missoula, MT?
Missoula and the surrounding area have a cold climate. Without good insulation, windows, air sealing, and efficient mechanical equipment it can be very expensive to heat a home in this area. In new homes it is possible to get very good levels of insulation and air-tightness if the builder is paying attention to detail during construction. But in existing homes it can be hard to tell where heat is being lost and the only effective way to find out is with a professional energy audit.

Why use Energetechs?
We have been around for 21 years and our team has a combined total of over 100 years experience in design, construction, heating, cooling, ventilation, and energy conservation. All of our staff have spent significant time in the construction industry which gives us a major advantage during an Energy Audit. Because we understand very clearly how buildings are put together we can tell you WHY you might have a problem and HOW to fix it. Which is a lot better than just telling you that you have a problem. All of our staff have put considerable time and effort into studying Building Science so we also understand in great depth how heat and moisture move in and through buildings. We can help you to solve and hopefully avoid many of the problems that arise in so many homes. We are committed to helping our customers achieve healthier, more affordable, and more energy efficient buildings.

CONTACT US – Energetechs, Inc., 615 Oak St, Suite 101, Missoula, MT, 59801 – ph.406.721.2741 – info@energetechs.com

Free Consultations for Designers

Energetechs is now offering a FREE ONE-HOUR CONSULTATION to architects and designers on EVERY NEW PROJECT!

As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the energy efficiency of ALL buildings, we are offering these free consultations to assist architects and designers with improving the performance of their buildings. The earlier we can be involved in the process the better as fundamental decisions like site selection, building size, and orientation can dramatically affect the end result in terms of energy performance.

Ideally we would like to encourage all building designers to establish performance goals for their buildings from the very beginning. These goals could be in line with existing programs like The 2030 Challenge or Passive House Standard or they could be goals that the design team establishes specifically for each project. Once the performance goals have been set, the building is then designed to meet the goals. This is known as Performance Based Design and is the most effective way to ensure that energy conservation is made a top priority in building design.

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE BENEFITS!
We can also assist with ensuring that health and safety as well as financial goals are met for each project. Our practical understanding of building science, moisture control, indoor air quality, HVAC systems, construction methods, and cost management makes us a highly valuable member of any Integrated Design team.

2009/10-AIA Sustainable Practice Conference

Energetechs welcomes architects to Bozeman.

We are very excited to be a part of the 2009 AIA Sustainable Practice Conference. We are looking forward to meeting with as many architects as possible and explaining how we can help to set and meet high performance goals for buildings. Not only that, but we can help improve all three of the triple bottom lines, the financial, the ecological, and the social. With our help buildings can be made healthier, safer, more energy efficient, and more cost effective.

The theme of this week’s conference is sustainable practice and much of the focus is on Integrated Design. And this is exactly where we feel we can be of the most service, offering our energy efficient design and construction expertise as part of an collaborative design process. If you are an architect attending the conference in Bozeman, please stop by our booth and learn about the services and products that we have to offer.

We are also using the conference as an opportunity to launch an exciting new program. Energetechs is now offering a FREE, ONE-HOUR CONSULTATION to architects and building designers for EVERY NEW PROJECT! Let us give you some free advice regarding building science and energy efficiency with no obligation whatsoever. Naturally, we’ll be thrilled if you decide to hire us to be part of your project team but we’ll be more than happy to give some free advice if it helps make your buildings better, safer, and greener.

For some time now we at Energetechs have been fostering the goal of working more closely with architects to make buildings more energy efficient. We love being part of an integrated design team from the earliest stages of a project to help set energy efficiency as a top priority. We’d like to see every design team choose energy performance goals (preferably in line with the 2030 Challenge) from the very beginning of every project and work to meet those goals throughout the entire project.

Ideas for living more energy efficiently

And saving on utility bills!

Turn it down! – In the winter use your programmable thermostat to lower the heat when you’re asleep or away from home. When you’re in the house set the thermostat to a lower temperature and put on a sweater, a pair of warm slippers,  and some more bed covers.

Use your blinds! – In winter keep the blinds and drapes of sun-exposed windows open in the daytime and closed at night to conserve heat. In the summer open windows and blinds at night to cool the house and close them in the daytime to keep it cool. If you don’t have good blinds consider installing insulating window coverings. They can be a great way to affordably reduce heat loss and gain through windows as well as adding privacy and beauty to your home.

Use your fans! – Ceiling fans are a much more energy efficient way to stay cool than air-conditioning. PLUS they can help to keep you comfortable in the winter too. Reversing the direction of the blades in winter pushes warm air up to the ceiling then brings it down the walls. This evens out the temperature without creating a cooling breeze. If you don’t have ceiling fans consider installing Energy Star models in your bedrooms and living room.

Fill it up! It takes almost as much energy and water to wash a small load as a big one so hang on to those dirty socks!

Wash ‘em cold! - unless clothes are badly stained, wash in cold water; always rinse clothes in cold water.

Hang ‘em up! (or on drying racks inside but watch out for too much humidity causing condensation inside your home). Clothes dryers use an enormous amount of energy and, most of the time, are not essential when clothes will dry perfectly well outside.

Cut the power! Turn off office equipment (TVs, radios, computers) and other appliances (the toaster, DVD, coffee maker, stereo, microwave) when not needed, at night or on the weekends. Home electronic products use energy when they’re off to power features like clock displays and remote controls. (In the average home, 40% of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.) At the very least pull the plug on these appliances if you go on vacation.

(Tip: If you put several appliances—your TV, DVD, VCR and stereo, for example—on a surge protector, you can turn them all off at once with the flip of a switch)

Don’t blow it! Use your exhaust fans sparingly; in just one hour they can remove a houseful of warmed or cooled air. BUT you do need to remove stale air, odors, and excess humidity from the house and bring in fresh air so consider installing a Heat Recovery Ventilation system. CLICK HERE to learn more.

Micro it!Use your microwave to reheat food; it uses 60% less energy than reheating on the stovetop.

Keep your cool! refrigerator coils—usually located on the back of the refrigerator—are used to expel heat, and if they are dusty it makes your fridge use more energy. Vacuum the coils once a year, especially if you have dogs and cats. Animal hair can really inhibit heat loss.

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