The REAL Reason We Need Building Science
I LOVE this photo! It has nothing to do with building science. Or does it? As we humans have progressed from living in caves to mud huts to stone buildings to the stick-built structures many of us in the US…
design
Help Wanted: HVAC Designer
Energy Vanguard is looking for a full-time residential HVAC designer. Must have training and experience in residential heating and cooling load calculations, equipment selection, air distribution, and duct design. We mainly deal with forced-air distribution and conventional systems, including mini-splits,…
The 7 Biggest Mistakes That HVAC Contractors Make
Heating and air conditioning contractors, like the rest of us, make mistakes. They make mistakes that hurt performance and efficiency of the HVAC systems they install and maintain. They make mistakes that hurt their customers sometimes. And they make mistakes…
Don’t Kill Your Air Flow with This Flex Duct Disease
I like flex duct. Really! In fact, I did an interview yesterday for the Energy Saving in the Home Radio Show and surprised the host, I think, when I said that to him. He's an HVAC contractor himself and is…
A Standout Example of Duct Design…Or Lack Thereof
Every once in a while I come across someone's workmanship that leaves me in awe. I see it and realize that I am looking at something unique, a piece of work (in all senses of that phrase) so bold that…
The Lesson of the Raining, Dripping, Crying Duct Boots
I've seen it over and over: The central air conditioner's ceiling vents raining down onto the floor. The insulation liner on the duct in the crawl space holding a gallon or two of water. The office that has spots appearing…
Sex Advice, Diet Tips, Decorating Ideas, & HVAC Design
Spice up your relationship with these seven sexy suggestions! Give your skin the youthful glow of radiant good health! Master that new mixer with these garden fresh recipes! Calculate the number of BTUs per hour that your home needs for…
Why an Oversized Air Conditioner Is a Bad Idea
Apparently, I haven't written a single article this summer about oversized air conditioners. Shame on me! I've written several in previous summers, mostly about how HVAC contractors bypass the HVAC design process by using rules of thumb and how they…
Not All Mini-Split Heat Pumps Are Ductless!
Mini-split heat pumps and ductless go together like peanut butter and jelly. Or do they? If all mini-splits were ductless, then why were those rigid elbows sitting on a jobsite I visited recently? That home is going to be heated…
Release the Kraken! — The Ductopus Is Bad for Air Conditioning
Just a quick little post today to show you the new image I put together. Last year I wrote an article about a type of duct system that's just a complete mess. A lot of home energy pros call it…