Those of us in the energy efficiency business get asked this question all the time and our answer is usually, “Yes, but…”You would think this would be an easy one for us in the efficiency field but like anything in life, there are always mitigating circumstances. Note: If you want Read more…
In other articles on this site, I have talked about using smart plugs for controls with recirc pumps. The beauty of these various smart plugs; however, is that they can control numerous appliances and features–not just a pump. For example, in my own home, I have converted various appliances that Read more…
When performing in-home audits for our clients, I often find that a number of our clients have bathrooms with heated floors. These are floors that have electric mats wired underneath the surface and the goal of the setup is to provide a warm floor whenever one steps in–day or night. Read more…
When we conduct in-home audits for high-usage clients, we often bring with us and set up a Rainforest monitor. This device usually only takes 15 minutes to set up, but it is invaluable for knowing what is going in your house regarding your electricity use. The way it works is Read more…
Many of our clients have “recirc” (or recirculation) pumps in their utility rooms or basements attached to a hot water heater. Some clients have more than one recirc pump, depending on the size of their home and their needs. The purpose of a recirc pump is to keep hot water Read more…
If you don’t know what a recirc pump does, I explained it previously. It is possible to control the timer for your recirc pump (and other devices) by using the following: a recirc pump with a 110V wire plug Amazon’s Alexa a Smart plug like the TP-Link Kasa plug a 3rd Read more…
This customer story involved a large home in Atherton, with a very nice older couple who wished to stay in their home as long as possible despite some mobility problems. One of the ways they stayed active and kept their joints flexible was to use their pool to exercise daily Read more…
As an energy coach who likes to work on large homes I am constantly surprised by the number of homes I visit that still have not swapped out their old incandescent lightbulbs for LEDs. I suspect it is due to the rather large energy bills they already pay and the Read more…