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

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

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.