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CASE STUDY
HOME PERFORMANCE WITH ENERGY STAR®
This case study was taken from the environmental Protection Agency's website and demonstrates the potential added value of retrofitting a home properly with energy efficiency upgrades.
When Fresno homeowners Matt and Lisa Nutting and their family were battling asthma, respiratory problems, mold, and high energy bills, they called local contractor Gary Richardson of Rare Service in nearby Clovis. Richardson was trained to diagnose and fix homes using the “house as a system” approach by the California Building Performance Contractors Association (CBPCA), a sponsor of Home Performance with ENERGY STAR in California.
The Nuttings’ respiratory problems started right after they installed a fireplace to help heat their large home in the winter. Matt and his daughter both began experiencing coughing and breathing problems, often waking 3 to 4 times during the night. They were also burdened with extremely high heating and cooling bills and comfort issues.
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR is an innovative whole house approach to improving the comfort and energy efficiency of existing homes. Qualified contractors provide a complete home assessment and recommend ways to improve its energy efficiency. They can install insulation, do air-sealing, and verify that heating and cooling equipment and ductwork are operating safely and efficiently. They can even replace equipment, if needed.
During the diagnosis, Richardson used a blower door, duct blaster, and infrared camera which helped him discover leaky ducts, poor attic insulation, and unsealed can lights in the ceiling. Because the fireplace insert was cutting off the only source of relatively fresh air in the home, insulation particles were being drawn down through the unsealed can lights, causing the family’s breathing problems. Without these sophisticated tools and techniques, the source of the Nuttings’ health problems may never have been discovered.
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