Priority Energy’s recent projects, research and related building performance information.
First Time Home Buyers with New Baby Seek IAQ and Home Comfort Help
A young couple bought their first home last year, in Barrington, IL. The partially renovated house, built in 1967, had space for their new baby and all his gear plus plenty of room for future needs. With a “newer” HVAC system, the first time-homebuyers felt reassured that their furnace would … Read More
Priority Energy’s Commercial Energy Audit Uncovers Huge Savings for Medical Building Owners
A recent commercial energy audit on a new-er medical office building revealed startling results. After a thorough building analysis and a benchmark study, Priority Energy discovered the building was using over 50% more electricity than comparable properties and had monthly operating costs that were $20,000 higher than projected. Also shocking was that … Read More
Ice Dams – Why Some Houses Get them and Others Don’t
Over the past few weeks weeks it has been troubling to see (and hear) neighbors chipping away at ice dams on their roofs. It’s the talk of the block; water leaks, gutters breaking, ceiling damage…all because of large amounts of ice that have accumulated along the eaves and overhangs of … Read More
DOE Recommends Duct Repairs to Reduce Cooling Costs and Improve Energy Efficiency
Homeowners interested in lowering their home cooling costs this summer should follow the DOE’s energy saving advice to fix and seal leaky duct work. “Duct repairs could be the most important energy improvement you can make if your home’s duct work is in the attic”, states a Research and Development study at the … Read More
Chicago Home Used in DOE Duct Sealing Research
The Department of Energy (DOE) chose a Chicago home when it began studying the correlation between duct leakage and a home’s heating and cooling efficiency. Chicagoans should read this article because the HVAC efficiency improvements they could expect to attain by sealing the duct leaks in their homes still apply … Read More
Hardwood Floor Problems Could Signal Other Serious Building Issues
Priority Energy recently flew to New York City to identify the cause(s) of buckling hardwood floors. A newly renovated 5 story office building in SoHo had 25,000 sq. ft. of newly installed hardwood flooring that had expanded across the width and risen at the edges of each plank. (See photo … Read More
WANT BETTER, MORE RESTFUL SLEEP? IMPROVE YOUR INDOOR AIR QUALITY!
Do you ever wake up feeling tired and groggy even after getting a more than adequate night of sleep? There are a number of causes for poor quality of sleep, but before you spend money on a new mattress, first consider the quality of the air in your bedroom. Priority … Read More
Belleville Homeowner Finds Savings!
When we recently visited a Belleville IL home we found a family who has been busy trying to do all the right things to reduce their total energy consumption to save some money while doing their part. What they didn’t realize was their largest opportunity for savings was right in … Read More
