Understanding Energy Efficiency Posts

How important is a “Home Energy Checkup”?

January 20th, 2016

Only if you believe that a “leaky home” can waste money And you should! Whether you are heating or cooling your home, leaky homes can waste your hard-earned dollars! The best way to evaluate your home is to have it professionally tested. Home energy assessments, home energy audits and home energy check-ups are all pretty […]

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Blower Door Testing, Community Energy Challenge, Energy Audit, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Fuel Costs, Heating, High Efficiency, Home Improvement, Understanding Energy Efficiency

Which is the BEST HVAC brand?

December 23rd, 2015

Government and utility consumer protection authorities unanimously agree that your satisfaction depends much more on picking the right contractor than a particular equipment brand. One question we are asked time and time again is “What brand of furnace or air conditioner should I buy?” Once a homeowner becomes more informed about the secrets of the HVAC […]

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100% Satisfaction Guarantee, AFUE, Air conditioning, Ductless Heat Pump, Energy Efficiency, Energy Star, Furnaces, Installation, PTCS, Understanding Energy Efficiency, When to Replace

The Importance of Air Sealing Attic Penetrations

April 30th, 2014

Can light sealing by CAZ Energy Services. Photo: Hunter Hassig Many times when homeowners are looking at home improvement solutions for cold spots or high energy bills they think insulation. While insulating your attic and crawl space sub-floor up to code standards is very important for whole home comfort and energy efficiency it is insufficient […]

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Comfort, Energy Efficiency, Energy Savings, Home Performance, IAQ, Indoor Air Quality, Understanding Energy Efficiency

Are Windows a Priority?

December 27th, 2013

One of the first industries to jump onto the energy efficiency bandwagon was the window industry.  Claims of huge energy savings and increased comfort are touted by the industry as advantages to replacing old windows.  While these claims definitely have merit, according to a study done by Michael Blasnik & Associates window replacements fall low […]

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Air Changes, Duct Sealing, Home Performance, IAQ, Understanding Energy Efficiency

Understanding Efficiency Ratings of Furnaces

March 21st, 2013

A central furnace or boiler’s efficiency is measured by annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE). The Federal Trade Commission requires new furnaces or boilers to display their AFUE so consumers can compare heating efficiencies of various models. AFUE is a measure of how efficient the appliance is in the energy in its fuel over the course […]

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AFUE, Cascade Natural Gas, CNG, High Efficiency, rebates, savings, Understanding Energy Efficiency