Energy Efficiency

Week 3

We are in the home stretch as we reach the end of week three of Makeover 2012.

Late summer ushered in a final blow of high temperatures, high humidity and hot heat indices, but the crew was able to finish installing the Energy Star rated WeatherBarr windows furnished by the Harry G. Barr Company.

The replacement windows are vinyl-framed, contain Low-E glass and are filled with Argon gas. These high-efficiency windows will replace the old, inefficient single-pane windows.

The new windows have a U-factor of .30. The U-factor is the inverse of R-value. The lower U-factor results in more efficient and better insulation properties. When replacing windows in Arkansas, consumers should request a U-factor of .30 or lower.

The Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is .22. A low SHGC is ideal for warm, moist southern climates where residents spend a great deal of time in the air-conditioning mode. A low SHGC will retard the radiant heat gain from the sun. When replacing windows, request a SHGC of .29 or less.

The windows also have a Low-E coating on the glass. The coating reflects or absorbs the sun’s radiant heat, thereby preventing it from entering the home. Remember, keeping heat from entering the home during the hot summer months dramatically improves comfort and lowers energy consumption. Consumers that reside in a northern climate should consult a window expert. The location of the Low-E coating and SHGC is different for northern climates.

The makeover team also addressed the problems with the entry doors at the makeover house. While the doors were actually fairly efficient, they didn’t have proper weather stripping to seal out unwanted air-infiltration. New, high-quality weather stripping kits were installed. Also, the locksets and strike plates were adjusted to allow the doors to close and seal properly.

Week four promises lots of action. If all goes as planned and Murphy’s Law avoids the project site, the team could finish the project next week (week of Sept. 10).

The makeover team will install the metal window trim pieces to the outer portion of each window. This is a labor-intensive project that requires a metal bending, or brake tool. Each trim piece is custom fit. A final caulking application will assure an airtight installation.

Rood Heating and Air from Russellville will be on site to fuse the newly installed geothermal loops and install the new Water Furnace Envision geothermal unit. Click on the makeover video segments learn about this process. Also, click on the link below for complete geothermal installation details: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5awzy4qVfE&feature=youtu.be .

Rood will also connect the General Electric GeoSpring Hybrid water heater into the domestic hot water feature of the new geothermal system installation. The GeoSpring water heater is the most efficient water heater available on the market.

A team of electric coopeative Building Performance Institute Building analysts will be on site to complete the interior caulking and sealing component. These Arkansas energy efficiency experts will use a blower-door diagnostic machine and infrared thermal imaging to locate any remaining unwanted air-infiltration. Electrical switches and receptacles will receive foam gaskets behind the cover plates. Interior window frames, doorframes, baseboards and plumbing penetrations will be caulked sealed.

The crew will also retrofit all lighting receptacles with compact fluorescent and LED lamps.

Thank you for following our progress!

Until next week,

Bret Curry

AECC