5 Tons Is Never the Right Answer
We do a lot of HVAC design (third party, all over the US) at Energy Vanguard. I've also written a lot about it here in this blog and in my book. And if you've been reading any of those pieces,…
heating & cooling
A Year of Home Electricity Monitoring Data
A little over a year ago, I wrote about the Emporia Vue home electricity monitoring system I installed at my house. I've posted data on LinkedIn and in some other articles since then. Now, though, I've got a whole year's…
3 Types of Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners
One way of categorizing heat pumps and air conditioners is by how much heating and cooling they can provide. By how much, I’m not referring to, say, a 2-ton versus a 3-ton air conditioner. What I’m talking about is whether…
Cooling Load Variation With Changing Temperatures
Sizing an air conditioner (or heat pump) shouldn't be left to guesswork. That's why we have engineering protocols like ACCA Manual J for calculating the amount of cooling load a house experiences. Among the factors that contribute are the outdoor…
5 Tips for Sizing an Air Conditioner
So you're getting a new air conditioner! Well, what size should you get? Unfortunately, too many contractors use only one input for sizing an air conditioner. Yup. To them, it's just a matter of floor area. Forget the windows, the…
Can a Heat Pump Water Heater Replace an Air Conditioner?
The most common type of heat pump water heater takes heat from the air and puts it into water. Of course, that's what all heat pumps do, right? Take heat from one place and put it in another. By removing…
Is Venting an Unconditioned Attic Necessary?
Let’s talk about the controversial issue of venting an unconditioned attic with outdoor air. It's easy to confuse causes and symptoms sometimes, and that happens a lot with attic ventilation. I'll say upfront, though, that the International Residential Code requires…
How to Kill the Performance of Your Insulation
If you want to kill the thermal performance of your insulation, you can take your pick of several excellent ways to do so. Of course, you could just not install insulation. (It happens, even in new construction.) You also could…
![Preparing An Old House For Electrification [Photo By Scottbb, Flickr.com, CC License]](https://www.energyvanguard.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/electrical-panel-neat-wiring-electrification-old-house-cropped.jpg)
Preparing an Old House for Electrification, Part 1
With the Inflation Reduction Act providing lots of incentives to improve your home and go all-electric, let's look at how you can prepare for the conversion. As with any home improvement job, it's best to do your homework. In this…
What Happens to Your Used Electricity?
When you turn on your toaster, you know what happens to the electricity going through those filaments. You can feel it. The energy you extract from the electricity turns directly into heat. But what about the other electrical devices and…