Energy Docs

The first day, all the loose insulation was vacuumed out of the attic and the dusty, but otherwise pristine, batts were removed. The next day, our old, but still serviceable, HVAC system was demolished and removed piece by piece. Gulp. I sure hope these guys know what they're doing. But Mike MacFarland's messages make a world of sense. Keep the ductwork straight, short, tight and well-insulated, and improve the air-tightness of the home by sealing the attic and vastly improving the actual performance of the insulation...and a home can be made much more comfortable with much less energy. (Corresponding work should also be done on the crawlspace, but that's still in our future). In our case, a 5 ton unit was replaced with a 1-1/2 to 2 ton heat pump with an efficient and variable speed air handler. One of the hallmarks of this company is that it constantly collects and shares data. So, I'm confident that the results of two weeks of work are as promised. But, the crew also gets feedback that helps it craft the best practices of the future. And, armed with a mountain of data, Mike seems to be a teacher and leader in his industry. Knowing that his crew, as excellent as it is, cannot possibly fix all the millions of energy-wasting homes in CA, he's doing his level best to spread the word. With his faith in data analysis and his firm grasp of the physics involved, Mike is also one of the best scientists I've ever met. The crew is professional in every sense of the word--knowledgeable, talented and considerate of the home's occupants. So far, we have not had one of Redding's notorious extreme weather days to fully challenge our new system and I have yet to receive the first month's PG&E bill, but we already appreciate the steadier, quieter and cleaner ventilation of our second floor. Some major annoyances that have existed since our 20 yr old house was built are now gone--the doors no longer slam when the AC comes on, and the soffit light covers no longer rattle when the wind blows. A dark hallway corner is now illuminated with a new recessed LED light installed at the time of attic repairs. Carbon monoxide is no longer being pulled into our home from an improperly vented propane water heater (!) The overhaul was expensive, but I think every dollar was well-spent. (Pricing was fair. And without even being asked, Mike and Brian found ways to save us money while the project was in progress). This contrasts with the thousands of dollars we wasted previously for cleaning, sealing and/or replacement of ducts, which only served to increase the airflow balance problems and noise levels in our house. We might have purchased fewer solar panels three years ago if we had connected with Energy Docs first. Because of the inertia in the industry--and, I suppose, the lack of demand for change from consumers--most new homes are still being built with oversized, leaky HVAC systems. Talk about waste! As I was finishing up my first draft of this review, last month's PG&E bill arrived. Under less than ideal conditions (high temperatures and construction), our usage was surprisingly low-- about 45% of the previous year's and the previous month's. I can't wait until the next statement!