for Remodelers, Insulators and Energy Service Providers

Saturday May 4, 8am

This will be a great opportunity to learn the best techniques for airsealing on both Retrofit and New Construction.  One thing you will learn is how to airseal a coved ceiling, covered in the Guild’s Technical Flash Card (click to view the flash  card):

We will be referencing and sharing 5 other flash cards for this workshop as well, covering:

• AirSealing – Blower Door Concept
• Seal Partition Wall Top Plate
• Seal Soffit @ Ceiling Plane
• Seal Joist Bay at Vented Flat Roof
• Seal Tongue and Groove Ceiling

(see the Guild’s Technical Flash Cards Project)

In other words, great technical information plus hands-on experience airsealing on a 1931 Craftsman home.  Space is limited to 16 people, so Register today!

Workshop Details:

Saturday May 4, 8 am – 10 am   Classroom Training 10 am – 4 pm   Optional Practicum @ the Guild EcoHouse

Cost:  $ 60 non members $ 45 NWEBG members Includes lunch!

REGISTER AT BROWN PAPER TICKETS: http://bpt.me/371419

Co-Sponsored By: Thurston Energy, The commons Fertile Ground, Olympia Federal Savings, Small Planet Workshop

Like a windbreaker over a sweater, our homes need both good insulation and a continuous air barrier for the system to work right. As we build and remodel toward much lower energy use, construction professionals need to build skills in air sealing, blocking thermal bridges, and good thermal details to make houses really perform.

This excellent workshop combines class time on the Building Science concepts with a hands on practicum on an historic home remodeling project.

• How to seal wall and shell penetrations that 90% of      builders miss, before and after walls are closed
• Focus on attic and basement detailing
• Understanding air pressure and infiltration in houses      and it’s effects on both moisture and air quality
• How poorly installed insulation hurts performance
• The use of Blower Doors, Infrared Camera, and other      Building Performance tools to improve our work
• The EPA Thermal Bypass Checklist and reducing Heat      Bridges for Passive House and other low energy standards

Instructor: Tom Balderston

Energy Efficiency Trainer, An Experienced  Designer, Builder, and Contractor  who works full time helping  building and retrofit teams meet and certify under Green Program standards and low energy targets

Thurston Energy is pleased to announce the EXTENSION of the “Cold Ca$h For A Warm Home” rebate program!

When the “Cold Ca$h” program began back in December of 2012, our goal was to help folks become more energy efficient, save money on their heating bills and be more comfortable in their homes. Not only have we met those goals, but in the process, customers have put over $65,000 back into their collective pockets through our rebate program.  And that is in addition to the utility rebates they enjoyed.

“If not for you and the rebate incentive, we probably would have kept the old furnace a few more years,” one of our customers told us recently.  That’s like music to our ears! Local contractors have also seen the benefit of this program. We’ve seen steady growth in the number of contractors joining the Thurston Energy Vendor Network, so that their customers can get their Cold Cas$h for a Warm Home.

Over the last three months, more than 140 people had HomePLUS energy evaluations (and took advantage of the $200 rebates).  More than 35 homes have already finished their energy improvement projects, and we know many more are still moving through the process.  If you’ve been considering an energy efficient upgrade, be it insulation, air sealing a new furnace or ductless heat pump, Thurston Energy’s Cold Ca$h program can save you money and help you get more comfortable.

So don’t delay! You’ve got until 5 p.m. on Friday June 21, 2013 to get everything completed and paperwork turned in.  Begin the first step to claiming your rebates by having your Thurston Energy HomePLUS Energy Evaluation today! To learn more, check out Thurston Energy’s website with this informative link: http://thurstonenergy.org/residential/rebates-for-efficiency/

Welcome to the next installment of our vendor spotlight feature. Thurston Energy has a new service provider that can provide you with a HomePLUS with EPS as well as all your HVAC needs. Jim Brewer with pacific air.

Tell me: What sorts of changes have you seen in the HVAC home heating industry in the last 5 years for example?

In home heating over the last 5 years the equipment has become more efficient and people are starting to grasp the ductless concept. Obviously it’s been popular in Asia and Europe but Americans are also starting to realize they’re great for home heating.
What would you say in terms of building science, have you seen recognition from folks about the concept, overall in how they heat and cool their houses? Is that something you help explain to your customers?

There’s still a big lack of awareness out there to the consumer, so mostly when they’re looking to cut their bills, they’re only looking at efficient heating equipment but they’re not asking about the whole house, so it’s our job to educate them and make them aware that it’s not just about the system, in fact a lot of the equipment that been put in over the last 10-15 years, people are starting to realize that it has not been as efficient as they thought or their wasn’t as much savings as they expected because they had so much leakage in their thermal envelope, so its definitely something we like to educate our customers on.
You bring up the thermal envelope and that’s part of an expansion on what you’ve begun practicing here at PAC which is to integrate the building science concepts into the home energy audit.
We have initiated it into our sales process. Now when people call us for a new furnace or eat pump, we don’t just come out and replace the systems with one like in size, we now do a complete home performance audit and that way we know what the true efficiency of that equipment will be under the existing circumstances of their home. And so we’re also able to show them areas of upgrades that will give them that efficiency that they are looking to purchase. So for that reason, we incorporated the whole house energy audits on all our sales calls.
So really you’re e ahead of the curve then…
Yes, because we’re doing it even though it’s not what they had asked for initially, we can help educate the customer about their home. You know, we’re family owned and operated (going on our 25th year this month) and I hope people will realize that they don’t have to over pay the utility companies. and that’s one thing that, I think folks can find themselves caught in a rut and they continue to pay the high heating bills and complain about it – but even though they may not have the entire amount of money to invest in a new system or invest in getting their house tighter, there’s financing they can get that would actually be lower than the utility bill they’re paying now.

Such as low cost financing through Thurston Energy and Generations Credit Union!
There you go!

Thanks Jim

My pleasure

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 passed by Congress on January 3, 2013, provides extensions of energy tax credit provisions that benefit homeowners seeking energy-efficiency improvements. Under section 25C, homeowners can claim a $500 maximum tax credit to cover material costs of energy-efficient upgrades to existing homes for all taxable years. The credit is only redeemable if the upgrades are in place by the end of 2013.    If a taxpayer has claimed $500 or more of this tax credit in any year prior to 2013, they may not claim any additional credit. For those that remain eligible, the tax credit can be applied to any of the following upgrades:

• Insulation – Additional insulation to walls, ceilings, or other part of the building envelope that meets the 2009 IECC (& supplements) specifications.

• Windows – 10% of material cost, up to $200 for replacement windows and skylights, and exterior doors that meet EnergyStar requirements. o Windows must be equal to or below a 0.30 U factor and a Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) of 0.30. Storm windows that meet the IECC in combination with their paired external window are eligible (taking into account the applicable climate zone). Storm doors paired with U-factor rated wood doors are eligible provided they do not exceed the default U-factor requirement for the combination. See the 2009 IECC for details.

• Window Films -The product must meet the requirements of a “qualifying insulation system” and be manufacturer certified. • Home Sealing – Sealing cracks in the building shell and ducts to reduce infiltration and heat loss in a manner consistent with the 2009 IECC.

• Electric Heat Pump – (This includes Ductless Heat Pumps) Must yield an energy factor of at least 2.0 in the standard Department of Energy test procedure,

• Natural Gas & Propane Furnaces – Credit of up to $150 for furnaces that meet an Annual Fuel Use Efficiency (AFUE) 95 or higher. Oil furnaces and gas, oil and propane boilers must meet an AFUE of 90 or better.

• Central air Conditioning Units and Air-Source Heat Pumps – Credit of up to $300 for units that meet the highest tier standards set by the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) as of February 17, 2009, which in most cases requires a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) of 16.

• Natural Gas, Propane, or Oil Water Heaters – Must have an energy factor of at least 0.82 or thermal efficiency of at least 90 percent.

• Biomass Fuel Property – A stove that burns biomass fuel to heat a dwelling unit located in the United States and used as a principal residence by the taxpayer; or to heat water for said dwelling unit, and must have a thermal efficiency rating of at least 75 percent.

First off, what does ECHO stand for? That’s an acronym right?

ECHO stands for energy consulting home and office. (At this time our organization’s primary focus is residential energy efficiency and energy upgrades). The office part is a placeholder for the future.

You guys are a fairly young company – tell me about how you got started and what drew you to home performance testing and services?

Kyle and I have been best friends for 18 years. We have always had a passion for conservation (and were thinking about ways to help build a better future for our families and our community). (Prior to starting ECHO) We were both in the same place in our careers (looking for a change). We came to the EDC (Economic Development Council) for some direction on how we could start a business (that was meaningful to us) and were directed into the offices of “Thurston Energy.” We knew we were looking to get into the green field, and with (some direction) from Thurston Energy and the full support of the EDC we have built something we are very proud of.

(Without giving away any trade secrets ) What do you see as the most cost effective measures that homeowners can take to make their homes more energy efficient?

EPS. EPS. EPS! (Energy Performance Score) All homes are different, and the best way to venture into new territory is with a map. EPS provides the (complete) information required to make decisions regarding comfort, efficiency, health, and savings. (It’s no secret that there are low cost ways to weatherize and make your home more efficient – we don’t claim to hold the market on that) -We want to make sure that all homeowners and small businesses have the most complete information to make informed decisions on the best ways to reduce their energy consumption and save money. (The kinds of savings were talking about can amount to hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year with minimal investment. These type of energy saving investments can also go a long ways toward increasing your home’s comfort as well. )

Claudette, as the administrative lead, what has this experience been like for you?

I am still surprised at how many homeowners are truly wanting to make their home more energy efficient, not just for the potential money savings but also to go a little greener with less energy consumption. Many homeowners are surprised at what their house is truly needing. We will go out to a home for a specific requested bid but will find more things wrong or things that could be upgraded and most homeowners are more than willing to fix all that they can. Sometimes they can’t do it all in one appointment (which is completely understandable) and customers will have us come out a few months down the road to complete the entire bid. I enjoy working with these people, they are wanting the best thing for them, their home, and the environment.

ECHO Energy is a provider of the Thurston Energy HomePLUS Energy Evaluation.

They can be reached at: (360) 515-0166

Join us on

Saturday, January 5 or

Saturday January 12, from 10 am - 4 pm

Learn a simple method to build insulating window inserts that can help you save energy, cut costs and help the environment while you learn how to build simple, low-cost interior insulating window inserts. These double layered windows fit snugly inside the window opening, are easily removable and can be made in custom sizes. They are built on a wood frame with shrink wrap and weatherstripping.

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation

2300 East End Street, Olympia

Workshop series inspired by IonEcobuilding Home EmPOWERment Project

To register contact: Joe Joy at joejoy2@comcast.net or 360-786-8092

To view a video of the process, click here

Join us on either Saturday,December 1 or Saturday December 15, from 10 am – 3 pm

Olympia Unitarian Universalist Congregation – 2300 East End Street, Olympia

Workshop series inspired by IonEcobuilding Home EmPOWERment Project

To register contact: Joe Joy at joejoy2@comcast.net or 360-786-8092

To view a video of the process, click here

What is the Vendor Network Spotlight you might ask yourself? This is a way that Thurston Energy can provide our Thurston Energy savers more information about the various contractors on our network that we work with to provide energy efficiency upgrades to the folks around Thurston County. This will be a bi-weekly feature and will highlight all areas of how Thurston Energy Savers can save energy, save money and be more comfortable in their homes and businesses.

If you weren’t familiar with a specific contractor or just wanted to know a little more, this feature will allow you to learn about a company and their areas of expertise.

With the heating season now in full swing, it’s my pleasure to introduce one of the newest members of the Thurston Energy Vendor Network, South Sound Ductless.

As you know, Thurston Energy promotes energy efficient technologies and home performance solutions for residents of Thurston County. Your business has been around less than a year. What type of experience do you have in the energy efficiency field for houses in our climate?

As a home builder and remodeler, we’ve been on the cutting edge of energy efficient design and construction for several years. We were constantly looking to find the best balance of energy efficiency and comfort for the Northwest climate. Because the Northwest is a mild climate, we found that many of the solutions out there were over the top in terms of cost; and the payback just wasn’t there. As part of our quest, we discovered ductless heat pumps. It didn’t take long for us to realize the huge impact that the ductless heat pump could have on the comfort and energy efficiency of both existing homes and new construction. After trying them out in our own homes we were sold on the idea and South Sound Ductless was born. We like to think of South Sound Ductless as a new and natural extension of a proven company. And in addition to being licensed and bonded in the state of Washington, we’re proud to have been named a Master Installer by the Northwest Ductless Project, an organization whose charter is promoting ductless heat pumps in the Northwest.

Pretend I just moved to Thurston County this summer and have imagined it to be like California where it never rains. Now that I’ve seen a few sprinkles, tell me what I can expect this winter and why a visit from South Sound Ductless is a good idea.

If you moved here within the last couple of months it would be easy to see how you might be lulled into thinking that. But rain happens. Its a fact of life in the Northwest. It is why it is so beautiful up here and why we have such huge trees. With the rain will come cooler temperatures. Installing a ductless heat pump in your home provides you several things that most conventional heat sources won’t. It will dehumidify the air in your home, offer very even heat through its unique variable speed invertor, dramatically lower your heating costs and help reduce the carbon foot print of your home.

Unlike traditional heat pumps, which struggle to heat as the temperature really starts to cool, the new ductless systems will also comfortably heat your home during those once or twice a year extra cold spells we get. They’re also super easy to maintain. And remember they are very quiet and very comfortable. Cory’s wife (Cory is one of our owners) says it reminds her of the wood heat she grew up with. And while it can be difficult to justify the cost of a new air conditioning system given our mild climate, AC comes standard with a ductless heat pump.

We’ve taken a long-term view of the market. Our owners and team members are long time Olympia residents (one of our owners is fourth generation) and we recognize that ductless heat pumps are a new idea to a lot of people. We’re laser focused on ductless heat pumps and excited about the benefits they can provide to homeowners. But we understand that part of the process is education and we’re happy to talk you through the pros and cons, different manufacturers and what you should expect. We’d love to have you as a customer, but recognize it might not be the right option at that specific time. That’s ok – we’ll be here when you’re ready.

I have an electric furnace right now but the utility has been trying to get me to switch to natural gas as my new fuel source. What benefits can I expect from electric ductless heating that I couldn’t get from a natural gas furnace?

Power companies have an abundance of gas, and a limited amount of electricity, therefore their first choice is for you to install a gas appliance or heat system. The problem is that gas furnaces are not nearly as efficient as Ductless Heat Pumps and over time you will spend considerably more on utility bills heating your home. The cost to install a Ductless Heat Pump starts at under $4000.00, so it is likely that it may cost you more to install a gas furnace that is a lot less comfortable and less efficient than a Ductless Heat Pump to begin with. Better for the power company, but a lot more expensive and less comfortable for you.

If someone had baseboard electric heat, would switching to ductless electric heat be much different if they don’t already use ducted heat? Why?

Ductless Heat Pumps are the perfect solution for replacement of baseboard heaters. Homes built using inefficient baseboard heaters face a huge cost if they try to convert to a ducted heat system. It cost somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 to 20 thousand dollars to install a ducted system in a baseboard heated home. For a third of that amount they can install a Ductless Heat System and not only be more comfortable but save a ton of money on their power bills. That is why the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, a group backed by the Bonneville Power Administration, has a goal of having 150,000 Ductless Heat Pumps installed as replacements to baseboard heaters in the Northwest.

Almost every power company in our area offers rebates, some as much as $1500.00 dollars, for replacing your baseboard heaters with a Ductless Heat Pump. We’d also be remiss if we didn’t mention that in addition to the utility rebates, there’s another great reason to invest in a new ductless heat pump this fall. Through Generations Credit Union, we’re proud to be able to offer 2.9% financing. Thurston County homeowners with approved credit also need to have a home energy assessment, which as you know Mark, Thurston Energy can help schedule.

Ineed! thanks so much.