Got A Leaky Whole House Fan?

THE PROBLEM: 

Leaky whole house fan

All whole house fan shutters leak air and are not insulated. The average whole house fan shutter has eight (8) square feet of un-insulated area. All the energy saved by the whole house fan when in use is lost in the summer months when the air conditioner is in use and when the furnace is in use in the winter months.

THE SOLUTION:  

ShutterMate - Universal Model SM-3538

The new ShutterMate from U.S. Green Products solves this problem by overlapping and sealing the entire shutter area, saving the homeowner valuable energy dollars.  It fits over 35 sizes of fan shutters installs in minutes from inside the room using magnetic closure.  The ShutterMatte performs the same function as attic insulation R-10 value with a weather-strip gasket.  You can even paint over the solid white to match over any decor.  The ShutterMate comes with a 15-year manufacturer's warranty.  Plus... 

         The ShutterMate complies to these Green Building Standards:

ENERGY STAR Home Sealing Program

NAHB National Green Building Standard

ENERGY STAR Thermal Bypass Requirements

USGBC-LEED for Homes Program

 

 Click here to learn more!

NEW...iTEC-RESNET!

iTEC-RESNET

The Energy Conservatory's first app for the iPhone & iPad.

The free iTEC RESNET (Ver 1.0) App makes it easy to comply with the data collection and reporting requirements of the new RESNET One Point Airtightness Test, as specified in Chapter 8 of the RESNET Performance Testing Standards. iTEC RESNET allows the user to manually enter the required Blower Door airtightness data, calculate test results, record customer and building information, display test results and email an HTML report. In addition, project files can be geotagged, time stamped and a single photograph from the camera roll can be linked to the project file. Finally, the application can email a project test file that is compatible with their new TECTITE 4.0 Blower Door PC software.

You can find the iTEC-RESNET app in the App Store by clicking in the search box and typing "resnet".  You can also click on this link for the iTunes website.  With your iPhone or connected iPad you can scan the code to the right.

There is not an Android version as of yet.

The Energy Conservatory writes custom software designed specifically for use with their diagnostic tools. Their software products makes it easier to diagnose, document and solve performance problems in buildings.  Visit their Software page for more information.

To browse their various diagnostic tools visit our The Energy Conservatory store!  Call Tracy for specials:  1-800-989-6686

Sweet new features....same awesome price!

The Sweet New FLIR i-Series

New from FLIR, the enhanced i-Series imagers but at the same great price!!!

Each model has a new rugged case design that meets the 2M drop test.  But who's worried about breaking with FLIR's 2-5-10 unmatched warranty protection...2-year bumper to bumper PLUS 5-year battery warranty AND 10-year detector warranty!

The i5 & i7 also offer a higher resolution & wider FOV lens..all at the same affordable price!  See for yourself...

Three Best-in-Class Imagers, but which is right for you?....

 Browse the new i-Series here!

HOT OFF THE TEC PRESS...  NEW FlowBlaster™
Accessory for Duct Blaster®  

from The Energy Conservatory

 

Measuring air flow of residential forced air registers can be a challenge.  The uneven pattern of air flow from typical residential registers and the relatively low register flow rates make accurate measurement difficult with traditional flow capture devices.  The Energy Conservatory has developed the FlowBlaster™ Capture Hood Accessory for the Duct Blaster® to accurately measure air flow in all residential applications.  The FlowBlaster is designed to measure supply, return and exhaust flow from 10 to 300 CFM.  
The FlowBlaster works by adding necessary flow conditioning and then precisely adjusting the speed of the Duct Blaster Fan to compensate for the pressure loss through the conditioners.  The unique, patent-pending design compensates for variations of construction and is able to measure air flow more accurately than commercial capture hood devices that have been used in the residential market.   

 Click here to learn more: 

The new FlowBlaster at ConservationStrategies.com! 

 

  Check out another NEW item from TEC....

PCA3...Combustion Analyzing made easy!

Bacharach’s PCA^®3 

Powerful and Easy to Use!

Made in the USA

Bacharach’s PCA^®3 is the accurate & reliable combustion & emissions analyzer.  It offers fast & accurate measurement for on-demand or semi-continuous sampling of light industrial, institutional, commercial and
residential furnaces, boilers and appliances.  

PCA^®3 measures and displays flue gas oxygen, carbon
monoxide, stack temperature, combustion air
temperature, draft and differential pressure.  With it's unique B-Smart^® Sensor technology the user can simply "pop out and pop in" replacement of the sensors.  This permits self calibration with no gas or guess work required! Providing the quickest and easiest calibration options to date, the B-Smart^® Sensors assures accurate performance with no downtime.

Conservation Strategies went out with our multifamily weatherization crew at project:HOMES, to see it in action.  The inspectors love the hands-free option that the magnet on the back offers.  The wireless printer came in handy for keeping up with the inspection of the furnace in each unit.  Once the had the final reading, they could quickly print out and label the apartment number.  It stores up to 500 tests that can also be downloaded to your computer into an excel spreadsheet. 

 

To learn more: Visit Our PCA^®3 Store!

 We also carry the tools needed to drill & fill for your testing. Shop our Pipe Hole Plug kits!

EPA's Lead RRP HEPA Vacuum

Valuable HEPA vacuum information from our partners at Nilfisk CFM!

EPA's Lead RRP HEPA Vacuum

Do you remodel or renovate homes built before 1978?

On October 1, 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead RRP (40 CFR, part 745, Subpart E) went into effect. The new rule requires contractors performing renovation, repair and painting projects that disturb lead-based paint in homes, child care facilities, and schools built before 1978 to be certified and follow specific work practices to prevent lead contamination. Among these required work practices are the use of a HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaner, to minimize dust and thoroughly clean the work area.

According to the rule:

• Walls must be cleaned starting at the ceiling and working down to the floor by either vacuuming with a HEPA vacuum or wiping with a damp cloth.
• Remaining surfaces are to be cleaned by thoroughly vacuuming all remaining surfaces and objects in the work area, including furniture and fixtures, with a HEPA vacuum. The HEPA vacuum must be equipped with a beater bar when vacuuming carpets and rugs.
• The use of machines that remove lead-based paint through high speed operation such as sanding, grinding, power planing, needle gun, abrasive blasting, or sandblasting, is prohibited unless such machines are used with HEPA exhaust control.

So, what does the EPA mean by a HEPA vacuum cleaner? In 40 CFR 745.83, the EPA states:      

“HEPA vacuum means a vacuum cleaner which has been designed with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter as the last filtration stage. A HEPA filter is a filter that is capable of capturing particles of 0.3 microns with 99.97% efficiency. The vacuum cleaner must be designed so that all the air drawn into the machine is expelled through the HEPA filter with none of the air leaking past it.”

While the EPA does NOT currently approve or certify any manufacturers’ vacuums or HEPA filters, Nilfisk HEPA vacuum cleaners exceed the EPA’s definition of a HEPA vacuum and are adequately equipped to safely collect hazardous lead dust generated during renovations.

• Equipped with multi-stage filtration, including a tested and certified HEPA filter, Nilfisk HEPA vacuums safely capture 99.97% of debris, down to and including 0.3 microns.
• Nilfisk HEPA vacuums for lead abatement can be equipped with optional turbo and/or power nozzles (only available on certain models). These are floor tools equipped with a carpet beater bar to dislodge heavy lead particulate that may be embedded in the carpet.  
• Nilfisk HEPA vacuums can be used in conjunction with vacuum-assisted power tools to collect hazardous lead debris at the source. 

(Read More:  Nilfisk cfm EPA Lead RRP full article )

 We've got your VAC!   That's right, Conservation Strategies carries a full line of Nilfisk HEPA vacuums and accessories!   Click here to view the most popular HEPA vacuums for lead abatement; each one exceeds the requirements for safely collecting lead debris as outlined in the RRP.  

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NEW!! TECTrainer

   

HOT OFF THE TEC PRESS...TECTrainer from The Energy Conservatory.

BLOWER DOOR TESTING:The TEC Trainer is an excellent way of displaying the setup and operation of the Blower Door system in a classroom setting.  It can also be used to give students some hands on practice setting up and running a Blower Door test.  You may want to use the DG-700 Simulator software (available from the TEC website to project the DG-700 on a screen during your demonstration.

Tests can be performed by using the Blower Door to either pressurize or depressurize the Trainer enclosure. Blower Door tests should typically be done without the flex ductwork installed inside the enclosure.

DUCT LEAKAGE TESTING:

The TEC Trainer can be used to demonstrate both Total Duct Leakage tests, and Duct Leakage to Outside tests. Duct Leakage testing requires installation of the flex ductwork assembly that came with the TEC Trainer. The flex ductwork assembly consists of a 32” section of flex ductwork with a black square transition piece attached to either end. The ductwork assembly contains a small non-adjustable hole (approximately 1” x 3”) located in the middle of ductwork. 

Tests can be performed to either pressurize or depressurize the ductwork.

The TEC Trainer includes the following:

• A folding frame with carrying case
• A red nylon cover with adjustable hole sizes
• A flex duct assembly for duct testing
• Duct attachment plate for easy connection to the Duct Blaster
• Zippered access panel
• Ring C for the Blower Door
• The hose kit provides all of the color coded, properly sized hoses that you need for testing
• A gauge bar to hang your Duct Blaster controller and gauge on the Blower Door frameA complete instruction manual that gives you recommended test configurations and the range of expected results.
• Carrying case for all parts

Click here to learn more: ConservationStrategies.com!