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ACI 2014 in Detroit
May 16, 2014My take on the Home Performance industry’s big show, ACI, held in Detroit this year. One really exciting change, HPXML, a near fist fight, and fun with friends.
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Why NOT to Buy a Programmable Thermostat, Part 1
April 7, 2014A programmable thermostat probably doesn’t save as much as you think. Here’s part one of why.
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A Case Study of Insulation Failure or the Tale of the Cold Addition
April 4, 2014Insulation alone probably won’t fix your cold addition. Here’s a story of failure from an insulation contractor turned Home Performance consultant who has found a way to fix the problem, every time.
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Why This Energy Efficiency Program Is In Trouble Before It Launches
February 19, 2014The new financing program from AFC First Financial for new furnaces in Connecticut is already programmed to be a likely failure. Here’s why.
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Free Quotes – Why Contractors Can Be Flaky, and How to Fix It
February 10, 2014Have you ever thought, boy, that contractor came all the way out here, then never sent a quote? He’s not crazy. Here’s an insider’s look at why contractors are flaky, and how to reduce the problem on your own projects.
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Why High Ceilings Make Cold Rooms
January 31, 2014Rooms with cathedral ceilings usually heat poorly and are uncomfortable. Here’s why.
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Confessions of an Insulation Contractor, Part 2
January 22, 2014A brutally honest look at a business failure of an insulation contractor and the plans to reinvent it.
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Minor Epiphany – Coal is Bad and I Reduce the Need for It
November 17, 2013Sometimes you need a little perspective. My job is difficult, full of challenges and small details that can be overwhelming when trying to get a job done correctly. The past year has been a constant struggle of change and failure and reinvention. Today I got a reminder of why I do what I do. At […]
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Hi Tech ‘Windows’ Instead of AC In a New Commercial Building
October 24, 2013This is another ‘I just can’t shut it off’ post. My oldest buddy Tim Hall, who I’ve known since we were 7, turned into a process engineer* at a large manufacturing firm, and for the second time he is supervising the addition on a manufacturing plant. We had lunch yesterday and he gave me a […]
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Do You Really Need Insulation? Einstein May Have Said No
October 21, 2013Have you ever jumped to a conclusion without doing your homework first, and gone through failure because of it? I sure have. My customers are often hoping for the silver bullet – let’s just fix this problem with a simple, inexpensive solution (more insulation, please) and move on. The problem is, when you jump to […]
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Floor Insulation at the Duquesne Incline in Pittsburgh
October 16, 2013Sometimes you just can’t turn it off. I just have to analyze buildings.* After a very stressful couple of weeks, my wife and I took our 4-month-old daughter to Pittsburgh for a little R&R. We happened upon the Duquesne Incline while trying to figure out how to see a 40 foot tall rubber duckie. The […]
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1.21 Gigawatts!! Why your ac won’t keep up.
August 29, 2013It’s hot again! Perhaps one last time this cool summer. By the time you head for bed, the bedroom is still too warm to fall asleep easily. Don’t blame your air conditioner, it may have a big handicap. You’re probably also curious what does Back to the Future have to do with not being able […]
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