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Bright Idea 1: Fix what's broken

Test your Heating and AC duct system for leaks. This is the first step in making a home more efficient, but is not done with regular servicing. The average California home can leak 30% or more of the conditioned air out into the attic or crawlspace. Prior to any other work, check to make sure your existing system is not losing energy in the form of excessive leaks. Utilizing building science technology Bright Ideas can test your system for leakage and through a utility sponsored program make necessary repairs at little or no cost to you.

Helpful links:

Tech Brief - Duct Testing - (PDF)

 

 

Bright Idea 2: Stop the Leaks

Air Seal your home. The outer walls of your home act as the building envelope to keep good conditioned air in, and bad outdoor air out! While insulation acts as a sweater around your house, air sealing puts a jacket around the sweater to maximize effectiveness, saving you even more money. Utilizing a Blower door, our technicians are able to detect even the smallest air infiltration points that have gone unnoticed costing you years of high energy bills. Oftentimes repair of these leakage points is simple and inexpensive. This is a must do prior to insulating your home.

Helpful links:

Energy Saving Tips: Leaks - U.S. Department of Energy

PG&E Website - Challenge 2K House Section Detail

 

 

Bright Idea 3: Install a whole house fan

Whole house fans pull cool night air in through open windows, and push hot stagnant air out through the attic. Whole house fans are great energy saving tools in the right climate zones (hot days and cooler nights) such as that found in the Central Valley of California. Bright Ideas and our utility companies recommend whole house fan cooling as part of your energy saving strategy.

Beware: Common Big Box store whole house fans can actually raise your energy bills due to excessive air and insulation loss when the fan is not in use. Big Box store whole house fans are typically noisy, have zero insulating properties and actually allow massive amounts of air to leak through them when not in use... which is 99% of the time. Bright Ideas has replaced these energy losers for many of our clients.

Unlike big box brand whole house fans, our fans are super quiet, air tight and insulated. Properly implemented whole house cooling systems, such as ours, can be up to 20 times more cost effective than air conditioning. You will love being much cooler at night without stressing over how much it cost. They silently save money when they're on, and preserve your savings when they are off!

Helpful links:

Whole House Fans: An Overview by AirScape

PG&E - Technical Sheet - Whole House Fans

 

 

Bright Idea 4: Home Insulation

Properly installed insulation can be one of the most cost effective measures to lower your energy bills. Dept of Energy recommends that Central Valley attics should be insulated to R-38 (about 13 to 16 inches). It is said, "there is a right way and a wrong way to everything." This is especially true in the world of insulation contractors. Just as properly installed insulation lowers energy bills and increases comfort; improperly installed insulation gives homeowners a false sense of savings, and does little to no good in actually reducing energy consumption.

Too often, insulation is left to the least skilled and underpaid worker, saving the contractor, but costing you money for years to follow. Quality installations issues are especially acute in older homes, and homes with vaulted ceilings. Air voids, sagging and missing insulation are common problems that are cured when Bright Ideas installs your insulation the right way and in proper sequence.

Bright Ideas understands that properly installed insulation is one important component of a large system. It must be done right, and in harmony with other energy efficiency measures to optimize savings and comfort.

Helpful links:

PG&E - Fact Sheet - Home Insulation

 

 

Bright Idea 5: Replacement Windows

Replacement windows can be a great way to increase the comfort of a room. However their realistic payback period is typically 10 to 15 years or more. There are times when new windows are warranted or just desired for draftiness and noise concerns. New dual pane windows are recommended by the Dept. of Energy for the Central Valley area, as long as they have the proper qualities (U-value and Solar Heat Gain co-efficient).

Bright Ideas' mission is to provide you with the proper information regarding cost, quality and value, to help you determine what is best for your family and home. We install highest quality dual pane windows where appropriate. Alternatively, or additionally, we install removable solar screens that help cool in the summer and allow heat to come in the winter when they are removed. One might also consider planting deciduous trees to block summer sun rays. We can help with tree selection and planting as well. Bright Ideas helps select and install the right combination of windows, screens and trees to cost effectively keep heat out in the summer and in during winter.

Helpful links:

Energy Saving Tips - Windows - U.S. Department of Energy

 

 

Bright Idea 6: Replace pool equipment

You are right to think that running pool equipment is expensive. Even recently installed, so called "energy efficient" equipment can be needlessly costing you a lot of money. If you are paying high energy rates (your bills average over $300/month) you could be paying over $100/mo for your pool equipment. It is not uncommon to find homes paying as much as $2000/yr to run the pool equipment. This is yet another area where we can help. Modern improvements have made computer controlled motors that boast up to 90% energy reduction over standard motors. While these systems can cost $1000 to $2000, they yield great savings in return. If you are a high energy user with a pool, this is a must do. Other alternatives cost less and save less, but on occasion, may be right for your current budget and the job they do. Bright Ideas will assess your existing equipment and implement an energy efficient upgrade that is right for you.

Helpful links:

PG&E - Letter to Pool Owners

 

 

Bright Idea 7: Get a second electric meter

Simply stated: well pumps cost a lot of money when they run a lot of hours. This is generally the result of watering a large landscape area, or many hours of watering fruit trees and other plants.

Great Bright Idea: If you have your own well, you may likely be eligible to put that well on a separate electric meter. A separate electric meter will give you an additional allotment of low cost energy for your well pump. Instead of paying over 40cents per kwh you will be paying less than 12 cents! Call or email us today to see if you qualify?

 

 

Bright Idea 8: Get straight advice

Bright Ideas Consultants have been trained in all aspects of energy efficiency. Small changes can make a difference. Whether it is turning off the computer, using CFL light bulbs or leaving hot water in the bathtub to cool, Bright Ideas has answers. We help you understand energy efficiency so that you can make energy wise decisions in everything from remodeling, to upgrading, to appliance purchasing or just greening up your lifestyle. Call us today for a consultation.

Helpful links:

California Building Performance Contractors Association CBPCA

 

 

Bright Idea 9: Solar Energy

Anyone who has seriously looked at Solar Energy knows that it is expensive. Considering that it is "cheaper to reduce than produce" Bright Ideas recommends that many other efficiency measures are taken first. This will minimize your need, and reduce the size, of a solar system. You will find that energy conservation via efficiency allows you to avoid the high cost of solar, or at a minimum, purchase a much smaller system.

We do recommend solar energy as the final step for customers who want to eliminate their need for conventional electricity, or have such large base needs that energy efficiency alone will not satisfy the demand. Through our network, we can help you find a solar contractor that understands the roll of efficiency, and will properly size your system to achieve the best results at the best cost. If you are considering energy cost reduction via solar energy, give Bright Ideas a call first to find out how to achieve your desired results for less. "Reduce then Produce."

 

 

Bright Idea 10: Install a new AC System

New Air Conditioning units operate from 30% to 60% more efficiently than older models. If your unit is over 15 to 20 yeas old it likely has a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER) of about 6. Today's units have a minimal SEER rating of 13 and range up to about 16 at a reasonable cost. Replacement of such a unit could save as much as $200 to $400/ summer month for many homes with high energy bills; resulting in a reasonable payback period of 4 to 8 years. Utility rebates and tax credits make these units even more affordable. Call for an estimate before incentives go away.

Helpful links:

Buying an air conditioner? - PG&E