Winthrop, Maine
Office (207) 377 9293
Mobile (207) 557 2844
Fax (207) 377 4444
What is Building Science?
The collection of scientific knowledge concentrated on the analysis and control of the physical events affecting buildings. Traditionally it includes the detailed analysis and measurement of building materials and building envelope systems.Building scientists focus on the reactions of buildings in response to naturally occurring physical events such as the weather (sun, wind, rain, temperature, humidity), and related issues like freeze/thaw cycles, dew point/frost point, snow load & drift prediction, lightning patterns, underground conditions including the potential for soil and ground-water activity, frost penetration, heaving and settling etc., material characteristics such as the water and water vapor permeability of materials, thermal qualities, strength, usability, and longevity issues, characteristics of physics, chemistry and biology such as capillary-action, absorption, condensation, gravity, thermal transfer (conductivity, radiation and convection), vapor pressure dynamics, chemical reactions, including fuel combustion, adhesion, and elasticity to name a few, nature of, and physiology of vermin and other living organisms in buildings such as fungus and mold, human characteristics and senses including the reaction to radiated heat and cold, humidity and sweat, allergen and chemical sensitivity etc., energy consumption, environmental control, occupant comfort, health and safety, building maintenance issues, longevity, and sustainability.
Typically, the building science in a project refers to the design and arrangement of building materials and component sub-assemblies into a well designed thermal envelope and a long-life building shell or 'skin'. The scope is much wider than this on most projects, and often expands to include indoor air quality and space conditioning appliances.
Ultimately we can use science and facts to model or predict building performance, optimize performance using different scenarios, and prevent building failures.
Back to top
Why is ventilation important?
The answer is surprisingly simple. We typically spend 90% of our time indoors, and the air inside of our homes, schools, & businesses is typically several times (up to 100 times) more polluted than the air outdoors.Anytime you build a properly air sealed and insulated building, or renovate an exisitng structure to do the same, you should include a ventilation system. Anyone telling you otherwise simply doesn’t understand the basic principles of cold-weather effects on building.
Fundamentally, when it comes to
buildings, you can have it one of two
ways:
- You can build a "conventional structure that breathes." (Generally designed and built pre 1970)
These buildings may have
insulation but they are literally designed to
allow air to pass freely through their walls and roof.
When the weather is calm you may retain more heat, but the air inside
will quickly become stale.
When the wind is blowing, you will lose heat rapidly, but
you’ll
feel fresh air in the form of cold drafts.
- OR you can insulate and seal your building properly and adopt the principle of:
Seal it tight
and ventilate right
!!!!
By sealing the structure,
you gain control over the indoor temperature
and the indoor air quality. You no longer depend on outside
atmospheric
conditions (temperature & wind) to ventilate the
building.
A proper mechanical ventilation system will filter outside pollutants
(allergens, etc.) while recycling, recovering, or preserving the heat
inside.
You can cut your heating bill in half, while enjoying fresh
air year
round.
The American Lung Association and the Maine Interior Air Quality Council recommend mechanical ventilators in every business and home — especially homes with children and elderly residents. Mechanical ventilation will be part of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
Back to top
The American Lung Association and the Maine Interior Air Quality Council recommend mechanical ventilators in every business and home — especially homes with children and elderly residents. Mechanical ventilation will be part of the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code.
I should replace my windows if they're leaky, right?
New windows look great but to be honest, window replacements have the lowest economic benefit, and the longest payback, when compared with other measures like air sealing, system upgrades and insulation. There are other low cost solutions like interior storm windows, solarized blinds or insulated curtains that you should consider first.Get advice from a building scientist before you spend big money on replacement windows.
Back to top
What is an energy audit or building analysis?
A scientific assessment, analysis or audit of a building’s energy use, primarily focused on heating and cooling in residential structures, expanding to operations and manufacturing processes in commercial and industrial settings. Treating the building as a ‘System’ and acknowledging the interaction of various building systems on each other, all energy sources and uses are considered, and depending on the engagement, measured, modeled and examined for opportunities to improve efficiency. We document our results, recommend improvements and work with you as necessary to develop a work scope, or plan, using our recommendations. And, answer your questions.Back to top
Why would I want one?
As Sir Francis Bacon said, "Knowledge is Power".If you know the facts about your situation you can make informed decisions about your improvement options. You will have the confidence and credibility that comes from knowing the facts, independently verifiable scientific test result facts, not folklore, because the opportunities for spending money on your building can be endless.
This effort can help you answer questions like,
- Should you add insulation and if so where?
- Should you change your heating system?
- Why are some rooms cold?
- Are my appliances such as the refrigerator inefficient?
- What am I doing that I can easily change to reduce consumption?
- How can I take advantage of low cost cooling?
- Will the work worsen or improve my mold and mildew problems?
- How tight can I seal the house without causing problems?
- Should you replace those windows?
But remember, buildings do not use energy, people do, so their behavior always controls the savings. If the improvements dramatically lower the energy demand but the thermostat is turned up, the savings will disappear.
Finally, experience has shown that if you undertake the recommend improvements, you may also address occupant asthma and allergy issues by improving your indoor air quality, solve moisture (or mold) problems, and dramatically improve the structure durability.
Ultimately you will increase the resale value of the building compared to similar ones without your energy improvements.
Back to top
Do energy audits or building analysis have to be done in winter conditions?
No.The majority of energy loss is related to construction methods. The problem areas can be identified in any season. Winter conditions make the problems more apparent to occupants but the issues are there year round.
Actually, a good time to perform do the analysis and upgrades is in warmer weather. Basically, as long as there is a 3 degree F difference between the inside and the outside, the analysis can proceed.
Back to top
Is a professional energy audit or building analysis really worth the price?
Yes!Especially when you consider that undetected energy losses trickle out in a steady stream 24 hours a day, every day. This is your money being wasted every day!
An energy audit or building analysis can obviously help you make good decisions in improving the efficiency of the building, but it also provides other opportunities for more benefits.
Like:
- Improved comfort levels
- Lower living or operating costs
- Improved indoor air quality
- Fewer health and safety concerns
- A smaller carbon footprint for the benefit of future generations.
Back to top
What is the process?
The typical engagement starts with phone interviews and discussions to learn more about your project, the structure history, energy consumption, specific areas of concern, and identify your long term goals.We use this process to prequalify our clients and to help them think through what level of services they want. Priding ourselves on being frugal with client fees, we want no confusion later on the project scope. Instead, we strive to consistently exceed our clients expectations. We operate an ethical and successful business.
To keep it simple lets discuss a typical residential audit. The project starts with the prequalification. Next, a work plan is created with the client that typically includes a comprehensive inspection of the home noting any conditions that directly affect the home's energy consumption, comfort and indoor air quality. Next a site visit is scheduled with the client. We encourage our clients or their staff to participate because they can learn as we go along and answer questions. Our folks will typically perform sophisticated diagnostic testing, often using computer controlled equipment, and physical inspection of the building systems. One tool we will probably use is a blower door to depressurize the structure to identify health and safety issues with combustion appliances like furnaces, determine the extent of air leakage in the structure, and ensure minimum indoor air quality standards. They also will use other tools like infrared equipment to look for insulation problems, water issues and electrical faults. In some engagements they will use data loggers to measure the environment or energy consumption over time and in others they will use instruments to measure moisture within structural elements or even deploy a borescope to probe deep into the structure.
But no matter the method, it falls to education and knowledge to ferret out what the FACTS are to make good recommendations. In all honesty, this can be a challenge because some buildings are really tricky to figure out.
Back to top
How long does it take?
A ‘typical’ residential assessment will take approximately 15 hours.This includes 2 hours for prequalification, 4 to 6 hours for the initial site visit, 6 to 8 hours modeling the project and preparing the report and another 1 to 2 hours retesting after the improvements are complete to, see if they attained the anticipated results.
Back to top
How much does it cost?
The cost of our services range from $200 for a JiffyQuick assessment and a site visit to multiple thousands of dollars for large commercial & industrial projects. Pricing depends on the work scope which we will determine together after we do a "preQual"We pride ourselves on being frugal with your fees so we will typically recommend the least expensive service necesary. We can expand the scope if needed later. But you make that decision.
We will never play "hide the pea" and pricing is one area where many will, just to get their foot in door. Anything that is done right will take time, knowledge, and investment in the right instruments and tools.
A
typical residential enegagement will cost about what you will pay for a
typical 60,000 mile scheduled
maintenance on your late model car.
maintenance on your late model car.
Our experience says that the typical residential "Comprehensive" (incudes modeling etc.) with test-in and test-out, will run around $600. This is the work scope required for compliance with the national BPI standards and to qualify for the Efficiency Maine Weatherization Program rebate. Please note it does not include project management which may be required in some programs if your contractor is not a certified provider.
Back to top
What projects can be done by building owners?
Many basic tasks and very effective measures can be done by building owners/operators/tenants to save contractor costs. We have an entire section devoted to D-I-Y tasks on this site. Please explore this section but read it carefully so you don't get yourself into trouble.For example, caulking foundation seams and window casings, weather stripping doors, and many other air sealing projects have been proven to be much more effective than previously thought.
We can show you specific areas and techniques that qualify as do-it-yourself projects.
Back to top
Why invest in energy efficiency?
In real simple terms ... MONEY!!!When buildings are inefficient, NOT investing in improvements actually COSTS you MORE money.
Said another way, a tight, well insulated building will have dramatically lower operating costs and higher resale value than one that carries higher energy bills. Investing in energy efficiency improvements lower your out-of-pocket costs, adds value to the building and benefits our local economy.
In almost every building just a few hundred to a few thousand dollars of "targeted" energy improvements can reap many times their cost in energy savings.
Back to top
Who do you work for?
Our Rule is: "One client per building."We operate to only the highest ethical and professional standards so we will work for the structure owner, the contractor or the tenant, but, only one of them.
We provide only professional services. We do not sell windows, weatherization, insulation or construction services.
All we do is this, and we do it very well.
Back to top
Does your work meet the new State Building Code requirements?
We don’t know yet.Until the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) becomes effective, we work within the building codes in effect in each individual municipality and applicable state codes.
Back a few years ago the Maine Legislature recognized the lack of code consistency and accountability across the state. After much public input, they enacted the Maine Uniform Building and Energy Code (MUBEC) to address the deficiencies and simplify code complience & administration for builders, developers, and towns.
Unfortunately the devil is in the details, so the legislature assigned the responsible of adopting and administering the code to a Technical Building Codes and Standards Board, made up primarily of members of the public appointed by the Governor. The Board has been meeting bimonthly for the last two years to merge the preexisting codes like fire, plumbing and electrical, and the new codes like the International Energy Conservation Code, into one set of codes. Once adopted, which is still set for July 1st 2010, the State Planning Office will administer a program of training and certification for local Code Enforcement Officers/building inspectors and new third party inspectors.
We are actively monitoring the Boards meetings, schooling ourselves on the IBC, IRC & IECC and plan to become third party inspectors for the Energy Code component of the MUBEC.
Back to top
What is Test-In and Test-Out?
‘Test-In’ and ‘Test-Out’ refer to the quality assurance standards required to qualify for most state and federal economic incentives, as well as to comply with both Energy Star Home Performance and BPI standards. Fundamentally scientific standards are used to set performance targets for the project. "Accepted Practice" is no longer the standard.This is a very important point to grasp. The contractor's work product can be tested when they are done and our tests will show if they accomplished the task and met the standards before final payment is made.
Some contractors may not agree to accept your requirements, or the findings from our ‘Test-Out’. In this case you may want a different contractor, or we can work with you to try to make reasonable changes to accommodate the contractor. If the changes are not appropriate, or if they may adversely impact your health and safety, we will tell you, and provide our observations in writing. At that point, we cannot continue with your project. No Final ‘Test-Out’ report will be issued unless the agreed upon standards are met.
Back to top
Where are your references?
As a professional services firm working for other professionals, engineers, contractors and building owners, our business relationships are confidential. We typically do not display company logos on our clothing or vehicles and depending on the engagement, are careful in how we present ourselves when working on projects.We maintain general and professional liability insurance coverage to protect our clients and offer a money-back guarantee on our work product. We have never had a refund request. If you are the least bit unsure about because of this policy, talk with us. We may have a solution.
Back to top
Deductions, Credits, Rebates, Incentives - What's the difference?
Tax deductions reduce your overall taxable income with the ultimate value of the deduction dependent on your tax bracket. For example if you itemize your deductions, are eligible for a $1,000 deduction, and are in the 31.375% tax bracket, the deduction will reduce your taxes by $313.75.Tax credits are the most valuable and reduce the amount of tax you owe, dollar for dollar.
Rebates reduce the cost of a purchase, such as insulation materials; they also are taxable in many jurisdictions so the rebate may be reported as income to tax authorities. Generally, a recipient will receive an IRS Form 1099 if the rebate is taxable, and in excess of $600 individually, or cumulatively, from any single utility, supplier or government agency.
Incentives are just plain tricky. Some like the Efficiency Maine Weatherization Program Incentives are like rebates, in that they reduce the cost of the project but they are not taxable. Other times, "Incentive" is used to describe something else like a tax credit, which depending is dramatically better than a rebate. There is no cut and fast rule so you must be vigilant and do your home work.
Back to top
What tax return paperwork or forms are needed to prove energy improvements were made?. Where can I find them?
Under the current IRS rules, manufacturers need to certify that specific products are eligible. Homeowners should obtain a copy of this certification from the manufacturer, installer, or retailer when buying the product. Certifications need not be submitted to the IRS, but should be kept on file in case the IRS has questions. You should also keep records of when each eligible measure is installed and the cost of the system (including labor).To apply for the current federal "incentives", homeowners should use the IRS Residential Energy Efficient Property Form 5695. Companies will use different forms depending on their reporting status.
Note: This is not tax advice and you should consult a professional tax advisor for information.
Back to top
I don't think I qualify for federal tax credits - where can I find information on Maine incentives?
There is quite a lot of information in another section of this site with name "Tax Credits, Rebates, and Incentives". You can also visit the State of Maine web site http://www.maine.gov and the Efficiency Maine web site http://www.efficiencymaine.com for more information. Or, give us a call and we can help.Back to top
How do the federal tax incentives interact with incentives provided by my state or utility?
Generally, for any purchase made after December 31, 2008, federal incentives are unaffected by other credits or rebates; the federal incentive is calculated based on the full cost you paid. There is discussion in Congress about new programs such as HomeStar being treated differently. You should check the latest information before making any financial committment.Note: This is not tax advice and you should consult a professional tax advisor for information.
Back to top
How will the Alternative Minimum Tax affect me?
For 2009 the consumer credits can be taken against the AMT. The on-site renewable incentives can also be used to offset the AMT. To determine how AMT will impact you, we recommend that you speak with a tax professional.Back to top
What is Home Performance?
A drafty building, rooms that are too hot or too cold, and high energy bills are all common issues for building owners. A quality installation of a new heating or air conditioning system, buying replacement windows, or adding more insulation may fix part of the problem. But the way to better results is through a Home Performance "whole-house" approach that looks at your building as a system.Home Performance is the belief that buildings can and should be made safe, comfortable, durable, and energy-efficient. Weatherization is just one component of Home Performance.
Having a certified building analyst measure, calculate, and analyze a building, will allow you to better understand the way your specific structure works and operates. With this information you can decide which improvements make the most sense for you.
But the core concept is an
emphasis on measurable results from
performance testing.
Performance testing can assure that you have a safe, comfortable, durable, and efficient building when the work is complete.
Back to top
What is Weatherization?
Weatherization is a weatherproofing practice used to protect a building and its interior from the elements, particularly from sunlight, precipitation, and wind.Weatherization is distinct from building insulation, although building insulation requires weatherization for proper functioning. Many types of insulation can be thought of as weatherization, because they block drafts or protect from cold winds. Whereas insulation primarily reduces conductive heat flow, weatherization primarily reduces convective heat flow.
Weatherization is also the term used by a widely known Federal Program for eligible Low Income individuals (those who qualify for LIEAP), that is designed to lower monthly fuel cost by making a home more fuel efficient by using insulation and weatherproofing techniques, and sometimes the replacement of heating and cooling appliances.
Back to top
