1. Seeing Is Believing. You deserve a Comfortable and Healthy Home!
“Ask the Genie” Phone Advice
“Genie House Calls” In-Home Visits

2. Why do I need the Home Efficiency Genie?
Conserve energy
Reduce water consumption
Lower energy bills
Increase home comfort
Improved indoor air quality, health and safety
Reduce greenhouse gases
Protects against future utility rate increase
Improved building durability
Reduced home maintenance

7. Is your home leaking air?

9. Genie House Call – Starting at $99
FREE efficiency items, including:
• (6) LED bulbs
• (1) High efficiency showerheads
• (2) Faucet aerators
• Toilet flappers
• Toilet leak detection dye tabs
• Hose nozzles
Overview of historical consumption
patterns for water, gas
and electric services
Efficiency assessments of:
• HVAC system(s)
• Domestic hot water system(s)
• Attic. floor. and wall insulation
• Lighting efficiency
• Windows
• Major appliances
• Building leakage testing utilizing diagnostic equipment
• Duct leakage testing and demonstration
• Infrared camera scan and demonstration

10. Direct Install Measures

11. Diagnostic Testing

12. Thermal Imaging Camera

14. Furnace

15. Assistance with Contractors
List of vetted, building science trained contractors
Provide contractor selection resources
Assist with contractor selection process
Connect with contractors on your behalf
Contractor subjected to QC/QA inspection
Review assessment reports
Review bids and estimates

16. City of Palo Alto Utilities Programs
Heat Pump Water Heater Pilot
Landscape Replacement & Graywater Rebates
Rain Barrels and Cistern Rebates
Permeable Pavement & Green Roof Rebates
Clothes Washer Rebate
Pool Pumps and Solar Water Heating
iEnergy Portal

17. Start with “Ask the Genie” phone advise or schedule your in-home
“Genie House Call”
Call the Genie!
(650) or
efficiencygenie.com

18. On the way to Pragmatic Sustainability
John Sack, Jeff Rensch
741 Chimalus Drive
Our Family’s Approach and Experience

19. Family Profile 1952-vintage ranch-style one-floor house with pool
2,200 square feet
Several remodels along the way
Had electric baseboard heat & electric kitchen
“because Palo Alto electric rates were so low” (in the 1970s maybe!)
Had solar water heat for pool
Barron Park area
Purchased in 1982
Married couple, plus 2 “kids with fur”
One (John) is a data and systems guy
Contractors be warned!

20. Energy/Resource-Use Profile, Projects
About typical for a family of two
So we thought we should do better than that!
Always an “early adopter” (for better or for worse)
Projects prior to Home Efficiency Genie:
Gas furnace replaced electric baseboard ASAP
Learning experience: contractor errors, bleeding edge technology
Solar installed 2005
Pool pump replacement with variable speed ~2010
Double-pane window replacement ~2012
Lighting changes to LED and fluorescent ~ 2013
Lawns removed and natives planted in 2014
Two electric cars 2014
Solar additions/upgrades 2015

21. Sustainability, Ongoing Cost, Comfort
Lower our resource use, especially of non- renewables, substitute renewables where feasible
Get off gas
Invest now to lower utility cost, especially post retirement
Don’t sweat payback period, but don’t waste money
Improve comfort and control
Temp swings, noise, drafts; get data, apps
Leading edge, but not bleeding edge

22. The Energy Audit Pay the $149!
Lots of data, evidence for what to change
Current performance, vs. target performance
Help from Scott to evaluate, prioritize the possible changes
Our actual report will be circulated

23. Contractor Selection Home Efficiency Genie provides list
Interviews, walkthroughs, interaction
Proposals
Sandium
Building Efficiency
Decision Criteria
Experience
Compatibility
Cost
References
Chose David Hamburger, Building Efficiency

24. Decisions to Make, Priorities
What we did
Furnace replaced with heat pump, in attic
All new duct work
Attic insulation R44
Seal air leaks, caulk windows
Floor insulation
Solar upgrade (separate project)
Lower hot water (gas) heater temp
“Kill-a-watt” self-audit
What we deferred
Refrigerator (deferred not for long)
Dog-door replacement
Whole-house fan
Wall insulation

25. Help Along The Way Solar Heat Pump & related energy
David Coale,
Wyndon Trinidad, Lundy Construction,
Heat Pump & related energy
Indra (Sunnyvale)
Vishy (Cupertino)
Scott Mellberg, Home Efficiency Genie, Palo Alto
Carlos & Josh, Rapid Rodent Removal,

26. Financing Cal First evaluated
Adds payments to your property tax
Not deductible
Home Equity Line of Credit (Stanford Credit Union) chosen
Most affordable rate
Deductible

27. The Solar “Upgrade” Project
Goal was “Net 0” on electric use
Had achieved this, but then:
Needed to add solar capacity to offset
Two electric cars
Heat pump
But all our solar-appropriate roof space was in use!
David Coale figured it out!
The CPA Fire Marshal approved
We will know in March if we achieved “net 0”
Aggressive “phantom load” reduction, est. 50 watts continuous

28. Surprises Hmm… Cool! No rebates with Genie
Didn’t achieve air exchange target
Electric panel upgrade
Decision on “heat strips”
Rats
No data export
Dog door options
Gained a closet, cheap!
Oversize is right size
Super quiet – is it on??
“Low and slow” so rethink setbacks
WiFi control
Annual filter change
Helpful Fire Marshal

29. What’s Next? Dog door Whole-house fan Electric cook top
Convection oven
Wall insulation when repainting

30. Building Efficiency

31. (415) 831-4535 buildingefficiency.net info@buildingefficiency.net