Builders, homeowners go green

Delfino Popoca, one of E3's trained professionals, installs open-cell spray foam in the roof deck and walls of a new home.

Locals  look to boost energy efficiency
By AMY STUMPFL
For Brentwood Home Page
There’s a lot of talk about green construction and energy efficiency these days. From LEED Certification to sustainable building materials and eco-friendly appliances, builders and homeowners alike are scrambling to keep up with current trends and industry standards.

Of course, not everyone has the opportunity – or budget – to build the green home of their dreams. But there are things that local homeowners can do to improve energy efficiency, while reducing stress on both the environment and their wallet.

The Blower Door Test is utilized to measure and identify the leaks in the home, as pictured here with Stefan and E3's summer intern Zach Brickner

E3 project manager Stefan Peter-Contesse seals an attic floor prior to the installation of blown-in cellulose insulation.

Duct leaks are identified by a process known as Duct Blasting. Kathryn Pedulla prepares for the testing by sealing the central return. Photos courtesy of E3 Innovate.

“When you talk about green building, a lot of people think of some wild, space-age building of the future,” says Jeff Middlebrooks, owner of E3 Innovate, LLC. “But it’s really just about a comprehensive building program that focuses on high quality, durable construction. It’s looking at energy reduction, water reduction and indoor air quality – and building to a higher standard.”

A leading home performance company, E3 Innovate works closely with home owners and builders to implement green practices, effectively cutting utility costs while boosting comfort, durability and home value. The company also helps build and certify high-performance homes.

As the owner of Solitude Custom Homes in Brentwood, Todd Spillane frequently works with E3 Innovate.

“At Solitude Custom Homes, we always strive to lead the way locally in adapting new technologies and building practices,” he says. “An easy application of this principle – and one that has become a standard for us – is that every home we build meets or exceeds the federal government’s Energy Star program requirements.

“We partner with E3 Innovate to do our third-party certification for both Energy Star and/or LEED. They’re the local experts, and throughout the construction process they make sure we’re maximizing the resources, products, and building practices we use to earn those certifications. In the end, it’s a win-win for customers because they’re assured of the quality construction of the home that leads to a more comfortable living experience, less negative impact on the environment, and perpetual savings on their annual heating and cooling costs.”

Of course, E3 Innovate also provides a wide range of services to homeowners, including everything from home energy assessments and energy use modeling to duct sealing and spray foam insulation. And while the average person may not be particularly well-versed in green technology, most homeowners do recognize the need for improved efficiency.

“Even if you’re not all that interested in environmental issues, you’re probably interested in saving money,” Middlebrooks says. “And when you see the return on investment, it’s pretty significant.

“We often hear from homeowners who are concerned with high energy bills. In other cases, there may be comfort issues with the home. For example, the temperature is uneven, so the house is either too hot or too cold.”

John and Vicky Graham offer the perfect example. The Brentwood couple recently worked with E3 Innovate to retrofit their 1960 ranch-style home.

“We had noticed that the heat was running constantly, and yet we were always cold,” John Graham says. “We definitely wanted to become good stewards of energy use, but we also were just hoping to keep the house warmer in the winter and maybe save on our heating bill.”

E3 Innovate started with a home energy assessment. Based on the results, the company then performed a comprehensive air sealing package, installed spray foam insulation in the attic, along with a sealed, conditioned crawlspace beneath the house.

The result? Improved livability and a significant cost savings, according to Graham.

“We’ve seen a substantial reduction in our utility bills – probably 30 percent,” he says. “We also ended up with a partially conditioned attic, which creates more usable storage space. And it really was a very smooth process.”

Sandy and Bob Dimick had a similar experience with their home in Lansdowne. A self-professed environmentalist, Sandy Dimick has long been concerned with energy conservation and sustainable living.

“When you think about things like mountaintop removal, as a means of getting coal for electricity, I just don’t want to contribute to those problems,” Dimick says. “I feel like we need to do everything we can to help conserve on energy and water.”

Since their home was built in 1998, Dimick felt pretty confident heading into the home energy assessment. But the audit revealed plenty of room for improvement. E3 Innovate again provided a comprehensive air sealing package, duct sealing, and installed a radiant barrier, as well as a sealed, conditioned crawlspace.

“I was really surprised by how many leaks we had,” Dimick says. “But the results were dramatic. The first winter, our heating bill was cut in half. And we saw big savings in the summer as well.

“Yes, there’s an initial investment, but we also received a nice tax write-off and with the huge savings in our monthly bills, we felt that it was well worth it. It was definitely money well spent.”