While the suit is about post-installation issues with the foam, those same sensitivities are even more likely while the foam is being sprayed. Be safe when spraying!
Sunday, April 28, 2013
Chemical sensitivity is no joke
Is anybody using any of the two part foam products mentioned in the article? I'm not familiar with Demilec, but I don't work with foam on a regular basis...
While the suit is about post-installation issues with the foam, those same sensitivities are even more likely while the foam is being sprayed. Be safe when spraying!
While the suit is about post-installation issues with the foam, those same sensitivities are even more likely while the foam is being sprayed. Be safe when spraying!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
A few additional views on indoor ventilation
This article discussing ASHRAE's ventilation requirement brought up some new viewpoints I hadn't heard before (looking towards the end of the article). I know there is some contention about the CFM number the standard generates being too high or too low. I do like that the article mentioned the wide variety of indoor activities that can make 'too high' and 'too low' arguments both valid.
I'm not installing or sizing fans on a daily basis, so I don't have a feel for what the average spec'd flow rate is for a post-weatherization house. I'd guess a large number of post-weatherization houses come in under 55 cfm continuous. This leads me to think that the ability to vary a fan's hourly flow (either directly from the fan or with a timer) is a pretty important detail. Joe Lstiburek is mentioned in the article recommending a fan be sized to 150% of the sized flow rate, but initially setting them at 50% of the flow rate. I don't know if that procedure would be able to fit in weatherization's policies. But in a high performance private sector situation, that would make lots of sense along with a little customer education. The house wouldn't be over ventilated, but there would be additional capacity to ramp up with additional loads (humidity, indoor pets, or plain old bad smells) if the situation should warrant it.
I'm not installing or sizing fans on a daily basis, so I don't have a feel for what the average spec'd flow rate is for a post-weatherization house. I'd guess a large number of post-weatherization houses come in under 55 cfm continuous. This leads me to think that the ability to vary a fan's hourly flow (either directly from the fan or with a timer) is a pretty important detail. Joe Lstiburek is mentioned in the article recommending a fan be sized to 150% of the sized flow rate, but initially setting them at 50% of the flow rate. I don't know if that procedure would be able to fit in weatherization's policies. But in a high performance private sector situation, that would make lots of sense along with a little customer education. The house wouldn't be over ventilated, but there would be additional capacity to ramp up with additional loads (humidity, indoor pets, or plain old bad smells) if the situation should warrant it.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
How to cope with a poor use of props *Updated*
First, some kudos. It was a pleasant surprise to see Ray Judy on the TV the other day. (It looks like the video in the WTHR link is still a bit glitchy.) He did a good job stressing the importance of air sealing before adding insulation.
Unfortunately, the camera then cuts to the reporter holding a of tube of caulk. Foam guns are cool looking! Show a foam gun! Even a little can of Great Stuff would be an improvement...
Come on Indy! Chicago has it figured out (go Meena!).
On a slightly related note, it is a bit puzzling to me why Indiana would be running out of all the "cheap" gas already. The tiny bit of reading I've done leads me to believe (not being an expert) that most of the fracking contracts that were producing vast amounts of cheap natural gas were long term contracts. As in we'd be enjoying cheap gas for the next 3-4 years. I can see gas bills being higher this month due to the increased number of heating degree days relative to last year. But the article specifically says the increase in cost is due to new gas costs.
Oh, and don't set your thermostat to 72 degrees in the summer and expect to see big electric savings. I wonder if that was deliberate misinformation from the gas companies to raise electric bills or if the error was on the reporter? Regardless, 78 degrees is just barely comfortable for most people in the summer and would be a setting that would help keep cooling costs lower.
*UPDATE*
It looks like WTHR combined information from Citizens Energy Group and Vectren when giving reasons why your gas bill will be higher in April. WISHTV has an article that covers Vectren and not CEG. According to Vectren, they are citing the colder weather as the reason for the higher bills, not an increase in the wholesale cost to the utility.
Unfortunately, the camera then cuts to the reporter holding a of tube of caulk. Foam guns are cool looking! Show a foam gun! Even a little can of Great Stuff would be an improvement...
Come on Indy! Chicago has it figured out (go Meena!).
On a slightly related note, it is a bit puzzling to me why Indiana would be running out of all the "cheap" gas already. The tiny bit of reading I've done leads me to believe (not being an expert) that most of the fracking contracts that were producing vast amounts of cheap natural gas were long term contracts. As in we'd be enjoying cheap gas for the next 3-4 years. I can see gas bills being higher this month due to the increased number of heating degree days relative to last year. But the article specifically says the increase in cost is due to new gas costs.
Oh, and don't set your thermostat to 72 degrees in the summer and expect to see big electric savings. I wonder if that was deliberate misinformation from the gas companies to raise electric bills or if the error was on the reporter? Regardless, 78 degrees is just barely comfortable for most people in the summer and would be a setting that would help keep cooling costs lower.
*UPDATE*
It looks like WTHR combined information from Citizens Energy Group and Vectren when giving reasons why your gas bill will be higher in April. WISHTV has an article that covers Vectren and not CEG. According to Vectren, they are citing the colder weather as the reason for the higher bills, not an increase in the wholesale cost to the utility.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
All I want to know is when does the Android app come out?
It looks like TEC is working on a wifi (Bluetooth?) dongle for their digital manometer (note the little blue LED on top). Something like this would make add a hole testing a little easier. Especially if the app relays the cfm50 number. Just set the gauge up, bring your phone and walk through the house opening holes and noting what the new pressure differentials are and the new cfm50 is.
The price tag seems a little high ($275), but not unbearable. According to Energy Vanguard the dongle is expected to be released in June.
Monday, April 1, 2013
For those of you in the know...
During the 2010 - 2011 DOE grant cycle INCAA was a subcontractor for two weatherization providers, WECC and CAPWI. That is obviously a conflict of interest for INCAA to evaluate and report on homes that INCAA also weatherized. To alleviate that conflict, Dr. William Hill was hired to perform an independent analysis of those houses that INCAA 'touched' either as a whole house contractor, or as an auditor. His independent analysis can be found here.
Thursday, March 28, 2013
2010 - 2011 Indiana Billing Analysis Report
2010 - 2011 Indiana Billing Analysis Report
The billing analysis report for homes weatherized between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 has been released. Some of the highlights:
First, a little optimism. Over two thirds of the providers were able to average savings greater than 20% for natural gas consumption. Something to bear in mind when looking at these charts. The Indiana Builder's Association (IBA) weatherized one in three houses during this time period. So the IBA is going to have a significant impact on all the state averages. That explains why the state average is so low relative to the majority of the other providers. All those providers achieving more than 20% savings aren't weatherizing many homes, & don't have as big an effect on the state average.
Percent savings are a decent way of comparing different providers working on different homes in different parts of the state. But what matters is the number of therms/kWh saved. Because those translate into dollars. To keep the math simple, a therm of gas costs about $1 (actually, a little less, but go ahead and round up to keep the math less tedious).
Before anyone thinks of doing any cost/benefit analysis with the information above, please keep in mind that this is ONLY natural gas data. Before any cost/benefit type thoughts are even entertained, any electric savings should be included. Unfortunately, NIPSCO, Vectren, and a very large number of local utility providers were able to provide consumption data for this report. That leaves out three very large electric providers, which makes it difficult to say very much about total energy savings.
That said, averaging 166 therms shows there is room for improvement. Which isn't a surprise. Given the strains of ARRA production goals and bringing new providers online and up to speed, I'm surprised to see the average savings as high as it is.
One area I think could & should be improved is increasing the amount of energy consumed before the house is weatherized. Not every house getting weatherization needs to be an energy hog. But it is very difficult to squeeze big therm savings from a house that isn't using much energy in the first place.
There will be a few posts in the future looking at some details of this dataset that wouldn't fit well into the official report. But if anyone has any ideas of topics they would like to be further flushed out, please let me know in the comments or email me.
The billing analysis report for homes weatherized between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 has been released. Some of the highlights:
- The state averaged 17.9% savings (+/- .4%); 166 therms annually (+/- 4 therms)
- The average provider annual therm savings ranged from over 400 therms (WECC) to less than 90 therms (PWC and HOW)
First, a little optimism. Over two thirds of the providers were able to average savings greater than 20% for natural gas consumption. Something to bear in mind when looking at these charts. The Indiana Builder's Association (IBA) weatherized one in three houses during this time period. So the IBA is going to have a significant impact on all the state averages. That explains why the state average is so low relative to the majority of the other providers. All those providers achieving more than 20% savings aren't weatherizing many homes, & don't have as big an effect on the state average.
Percent savings are a decent way of comparing different providers working on different homes in different parts of the state. But what matters is the number of therms/kWh saved. Because those translate into dollars. To keep the math simple, a therm of gas costs about $1 (actually, a little less, but go ahead and round up to keep the math less tedious).
Before anyone thinks of doing any cost/benefit analysis with the information above, please keep in mind that this is ONLY natural gas data. Before any cost/benefit type thoughts are even entertained, any electric savings should be included. Unfortunately, NIPSCO, Vectren, and a very large number of local utility providers were able to provide consumption data for this report. That leaves out three very large electric providers, which makes it difficult to say very much about total energy savings.
That said, averaging 166 therms shows there is room for improvement. Which isn't a surprise. Given the strains of ARRA production goals and bringing new providers online and up to speed, I'm surprised to see the average savings as high as it is.
One area I think could & should be improved is increasing the amount of energy consumed before the house is weatherized. Not every house getting weatherization needs to be an energy hog. But it is very difficult to squeeze big therm savings from a house that isn't using much energy in the first place.
There will be a few posts in the future looking at some details of this dataset that wouldn't fit well into the official report. But if anyone has any ideas of topics they would like to be further flushed out, please let me know in the comments or email me.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Billing Analysis reports from year's past
IHCDA's billing analysis report for homes weatherized between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2011 is wrapping up. It should be finished by the end of the month along with each provider's Production Reports. In the mean time, here are links to some of the most recent state reports INCAA produced for IHCDA:
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010 (includes the beginning of ARRA)
2007-2008
2008-2009
2009-2010 (includes the beginning of ARRA)
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