"Evidence Suggests That Most HVAC Equipment is Improperly Installed"

The only way to know if equipment is installed properly is to measure performance. PERIOD.

Energy In The News

Sample C.L.I. Energy Improvement  Analysis (Full Analysis)

C.L.I. Performance (Measured Results) Test Report, Graph (Actual performance testing from recent project performed with SIEMENS Building Technologies, Inc.)

Download C.L.I. Group, LLC Residential Performance Booklet

A Word of Caution...If You Are Offered an Energy Audit By a Home Improvement Company, Their Interest May Be In Selling You Additional Products and Services (e.g. Windows, Insulation, HVAC Equipment) This practice is considered to be a conflict of interest by many professional organizations for obvious reasons. This may also account for their discount pricing!! Their tactics may end up costing you more than you save.

Energy Codes:

The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) is the accepted code for the State of Ohio. How does the code affect homeowners? If you are living in an older home, it probably doesn't. However, if you plan on additions to the home, the addition may have to meet code requirements. C.L.I. Group, LLC can evaluate your building project and your building plans to assure that the project complies with the building code (IECC).

By hiring a code certified inspector, you will be ahead in assuring that your building project and plans comply with current codes. We utilize different programs during survey's dependent upon client needs including REM/DESIGN, ResCheck, ComCheck. Our consultant has completed courses approved by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) for High Performance Building & School Design, LEED; Green Building Rating System and Energy Star.

Independent Verification (Third Party)

As a consumer, you should be aware of the ethically questionable practice of offering measurement services in order to sell products and/or verify the installations of such products. If your HVAC service contractor offers services such as free or low cost energy audits, blower door services, duct evaluations, etc. you should be cautious. This may be a ploy to get in the door and make a sale or a way of slipping past poor installations. Having the need for a new system or the proper installation of a new system commissioned or verified by an independent third party may surprise you. Independent third party verification is the consumers ONLY true safeguard. We have nothing to lose or gain by reporting the facts to you. This makes our services the Best Value in consumer protection. Don't take our word for it, look at what other professional organizations say concerning installations.

C.L.I. Performance Testing

C.L.I. will evaluate your building and systems using the most accurate means available. The proper equipment and procedures are critical to measuring the performance of any built environment. There are companies popping up daily that offer to perform energy audits as part of other transactions (e.g. contractors, home inspectors, etc.) The fact is that measuring building performance is an extremely technical undertaking and without using proper specifications and equipment these companies are simply guessing. This does not tell you true building performance and in some cases could actually make matters worse. Our performance based testing utilizes the most accurate means available for measuring the performance of the building and components of the building including:

Performing proper performance testing for any building requires extensive experience, education and some very costly equipment. Many try to get their foot in the door and offer services without the proper equipment. While the information they give may or may not be accurate, without the proper equipment you are only getting half the story. For example, many contractors offer blower door tests. You will get information such as your building has a CFM50 of 4238?? That does not give the average homeowner much to go on. This is the reason, C.L.I. has thermal imaging equipment, which we utilize to show you where your building is leaking. You cannot correct a problem if you do not know where it is, right? In addition, we have the experience and equipment to evaluate all of the systems which may need attention including ductwork, balancing of your HVAC system, combustion analysis, indoor air quality, etc.

C.L.I. maintains N.I.S.T. traceable calibrations where applicable. We also perform our own calibration using N.I.S.T. traceable Primary Standards.

Concerned About This Years Heating Costs? Click Here

Natural Gas Prices UP 15% This Winter!! View Some Sample Energy Audits.

2006/2007 Energy Tax Credit for Homeowners, Commercial Buildings & Builders

Take a Look at Natural Gas Price Increases for Recent Years

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Ohio Weatherization Assistance Program

Energy Saving Calculators for Homes

Water Saving Ideas from WaterSense

Which Codes Apply ?

The map shows which energy codes have been adopted by states at this time. Ohio will adopt the 2003 IECC in March of 2005. (Click on map for larger image). Code compliance can be determined using System Analysis, Component Performance or Simplified Prescriptive Approach using approved software. Your consultant will have details on trade-offs, etc. ResCheck compliance reports must be prepared by an ICC Certified Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner.

Click Here for Current Status of Ohio Energy Codes

A Word About Hiring an Energy Consultant

As with every other home or building owner concern (e.g. mold) the energy cost concerns of 2005 has brought out those that are always there to cash in on consumer fears. There are now generic training classes offering energy certifications after a one day seminar. These so-called energy auditors are not Certified Energy Raters. They have no access to rater software, cannot legally perform tax credit verifications and may actually be providing misleading information which can do more harm than good. In fact, some of their misleading information may actually be putting consumers in jeopardy. The fact that someone buys a blower door does not make them a qualified energy consultant or rater any more than if someone bought a stethoscope and began performing surgeries. Be cautious when hiring an energy consultant. Look for Energy consultants that have proven training and abilities by hiring RESNET Certified individuals, LEED Accredited Professionals or Code Certified Energy Inspector/Plan Examiners. If your consultant has not passed the RESNET, LEED AP or ICC Energy Inspector/Plans Examiner exams, they may lack the proper training to perform an energy audit. It should also be noted, that simply being RESNET, ICC or LEED certified does not guaranty a consultant is qualified. How long have they been in business? Do they have references? Look at their other training. Do they have HVAC, IAQ, Building Science Training?

These unqualified practitioners are part of the reason we have so many building problems. They always compete using the only method they know, CHEAP PRICES! This does not compensate for their lack of experience or knowledge and may be simply a waste of time and money. This low bid mentality has helped to create buildings that perform poorly, pose environmental risks to occupants, add to discomfort, cause degradation of building components and cause premature system repairs and/or replacement. So the initial money you save will ultimately cost a great deal more later. These charlatans water down their professions and lead to higher costs for all consumers. 

It is our opinion that if you have an interest in energy retrofitting your home, the cost incurred in getting a thorough and professional energy audit is money well spent. If you are going to pay a fly-by-night company $200 to do an energy inspection of your home. Save your money. You will be further ahead by doing your own research (on this site) and using your $200 for materials to perform some simple retrofits yourself. The biggest benefit in retrofitting any building for better energy efficiency is in having the home assessed by a qualified team of professionals that understand the "holistics" of the integrated components of the building. This includes electrical systems, HVAC systems, air balancing, envelope modeling, pressure boundaries, base loads, thermal bridging, ventilation, super heat/sub cooling measurement and other important energy considerations. The evaluation of the building as a whole is the only way to evaluate the most cost effective retrofitting options. This is a good argument of why many so-called energy audit companies lack the experience to truly evaluate a buildings energy consumption and/or losses.

Although C.L.I. Group, LLC does not perform actual home energy (HERS) ratings (we feel that if a rating is not needed, our protocols are more in-depth), we have passed the National Rater Exam and have performed ratings in the past. We understand that only a small portion of homeowners actually require an actual HERS rating. Most homeowners are interested in reducing energy costs. Our energy audits are much more intensive that a HERS rating. We employ state of the art equipment including thermal imaging equipment. Our technicians must also be certified in HVAC Test & Balance procedures. This allows us to evaluate your home "holistically". We have chosen to leave HERS ratings to those that perform them for a living. Our audits encompass all of those factors which we feel are outside of the scope of a HERS rating, including infrared thermography, indoor air quality, HVAC system balancing, building envelope analysis and modeling and other issues. These additional services allow us to provide the services that will most benefit existing homeowners and allow for cost effective retrofitting.

Is More Insulation The Answer?

What You Need to Know Before Hiring an Insulation Contractor
 

Maybe, maybe not. Your home may have adequate insulation, but just because it does is no indication that there is not building leakage or that the insulation is properly installed. We find many homes that have adequate amounts of insulation which has been improperly or carelessly installed. It is not uncommon to find uneven insulation, soffit vents which have been insulated over, crushed or damaged ducts and vapor/air barriers which are improperly installed during audits. Improperly installed insulation could in some cases,  create more problems than no insulation.

If the home is older, there may also be some environmental considerations such as asbestos containing vermiculite insulation, water damaged cellulose which has lost it's fire retardant capabilities or mold under insulation which has been subjected to moisture from condensation, ice dams and roof or flashing leaks. It is not uncommon to find supply and return ducts in unconditioned spaced that is leaking and/or not properly insulated.

The type and installation of new insulation is just as important as improving insulation. Many homeowners have insulation improvements made to their homes in an effort to make the home more energy efficient. Unfortunately, in many cases the insulation is either poorly installed or a poor choice of materials. Improperly installed insulation may be of little help in making the home more energy efficient.

Some things to be aware of when making insulation improvements are the type of insulation installed, vapor barrier direction and complete coverage. Remember, the more density the insulation has, the better the reduction in air flow. Homeowners should also pay special attention to "how" the insulation is installed. Is the vapor barrier (e.g. paper facing) facing the warm in winter side of building? Is there knob and tube wiring present? If so, it may create a hazard if you insulate over the conductors. Are ceiling "can lights" present? If so, are they IC rated and air tight? Have all openings in the ceiling been accounted for? All openings are air leakage pathways. Installing new insulation in the attic and forgetting to insulate over pull down stairs or scuttle hole openings may make your efforts meaningless.

Study By NAHB for the EPA

Tests of completed homes performed by the NAHB Research Center studied the impact of three alternative wall insulation materials and a variety of air sealing techniques on air leakage rates in new single-family homes. Conducted for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the study found that:

Building Pressures and Pressure Boundaries

Pressures in the building and hidden leakage pathways are two of the most important factors that will determine whether your current insulation or additional insulation will be a successful endeavor. Without knowing and understanding the pressure boundaries in your building, added insulation may achieve little, if any results. More importantly, having a qualified technician to diagnose the pressure barriers within the building should be the first step. A proper diagnoses of the thermal and pressure boundaries in the building can assure that added insulation will be cost effective and that new problems are not created. Depending on the style of the building and the construction techniques used, the home may have numerous leakage pathways and series leakage pathways which act to reduce the values of added insulation.

Windows

During the construction phase of your new home did anyone check the windows being installed? If not, you may not have the specified windows which could significantly affect the energy efficiency of your home. A recent survey involving about 110 houses (approximately 2,800 windows)
found on average that about 3% of the windows are mislabeled (ConSol 2000). In two of the houses, as many as 17% of their windows were mislabeled. The mislabeling occurs during window manufacturing and is related to placing the low-e coating on the wrong pane (increases SHGC by about 20%) or to having clear glazing instead of low-solar-gain low-e glazing. Without diagnostic tools, it is extremely difficult to visually detect emittance problems.

C.L.I. Group, LLC will evaluate the low-e coatings on the windows in your home during an energy audit, in addition we will evaluate the SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) of all windows in the home. Having the wrong windows delivered to the job or improper ordering or installation may be something that will reduce the energy efficiency of your home for years to come. Many consumers, builders and governmental code authorities trust that windows will perform as labeled, the problem is they may not be properly labeled. The local building inspector will look at the label when inspecting the windows. Closer Look actually performs the diagnostics to assure that the windows meet the requirement and are properly labeled by the manufacturer.

Window Radiation

Windows are important during an energy audit of a building because they are typically the "weak link" in the building envelope, allowing heat to escape in the winter and enter the home in the summer. Special coatings called "Low E" (low emissive) allow harmless visible light into the home, while blocking out harmful Ultraviolet Rays and heat radiated directly from the sun or re-radiated from hot objects outside the home. Our Low E meters tell us 1) if the Low E coating is present and 2) whether or not the coating is installed on the correct surface on the window. Many homeowners are surprised to discover that their low e windows have been improperly installed or the wrong window coatings were ordered by the installer. An improperly installed low e window wil have little benefit and may actually make matters worse.

Other Important Insulation Considerations:

During new construction, it is important to make certain that the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) requirements are met to assure that your home is as energy efficient as possible. This will include evaluating plans and specifications, comparing installed components such as door and windows with plans or schedules. Measuring the Steady State Efficiency (SSE)  of heating system, measuring draft in combustion appliances, assuring adequate combustion air under varying building conditions and gaining a full understanding of how pressures affect the building and components under changing conditions.

The photo on the right shows a project with which we were recently involved. The exterior foundation insulation was left unprotected and exposed during construction and was water damaged as a result. If an inspection had been performed before backfilling occurred this could have been prevented. Having a private consultant that is experienced in building and energy codes perform phased inspections during construction and performing commissioning both during and after construction can save both time and money down the road by assuring a proper installation and assuring that equipment is functioning as intended.

Duct Leakage and Heat Loss by Convection:

Duct leakage can cause many problems in a home. Problems include uncomfortable conditions, inefficient operation, indoor air quality problems, building pressure problems and other problems. Duct problems can include, ducts in unconditioned spaces which are not properly insulated, ducts which leak at joints, improperly supported ducts (the photo on left has all). Newer homes or retrofitted older homes which have flexible, insulated ducts "flex duct" should be evaluated for duct damage caused by careless workers, poor installation, etc.  It is also very common in older homes which have duct tape on the seams. Believe it or not, "duct tape" is not permitted on ducts according to IECC, and for good reason, it does not work!

Having your supply and return measured by a balancing professional can find problems early and they can be corrected. During an evaluation of the building, if it is determined that duct leakage may be an issue we will also perform pressure diagnostics to determine if combustion zones are being de-pressurized creating a hazardous condition where combustion gases can spill or back-draft into the building. This type of testing is rarely performed by contractors, fire departments or others called in to assess suspected carbon monoxide problems in a building.

Hidden Leakage Accounts for Large Amount of Lost Energy:

Hidden leakage accounts for a considerable amount of energy loss in a building. Many homeowners assume that by adding new windows and insulation that there older home will now be energy efficient. The fact is, in most cases, older windows are only a small contributor to overall energy losses in a building. It is the hidden leakage that adds up to be the major contributor to building heat losses.

We understand how homes are constructed and using state of the art equipment can locate those hidden areas of leakage fast and efficiently. When evaluating building leakage the building must be considered as a whole. The first course of action during an energy audit is to locate and identify the conditioned space of a building. This is not always a cut and dry issue. Discovering leakage between conditioned and unconditioned spaces is a high priority during an energy audit. This will require some technical knowledge on the part of the energy auditor evaluating the home. Pressure measurements can be tricky and even misleading if improperly performed.

Once we determine the leakage areas, pressure diagnostics are performed on the building to evaluate what effect that tightening the building and stopping uncontrolled ventilation will have. By stopping the uncontrolled ventilation in the building other problems may arise. Some of these other problems include, depressurization in areas which could cause back drafting of fuel burning appliance, fireplaces, etc. This can be adjusted using controlled ventilation such as ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilation) or HRV (Heat Recovery Ventilation). We also evaluate other areas of concern including duct leakage, balancing of supply and return air, overall static pressures with the duct system, proper return air paths and other issues which need to be evaluated as part of any energy audit or retrofitting.

It is important that building pressures and overall tightness of the building be properly assessed during and after any retrofitting work. Click Here to read more on Pressure Diagnostics.
 

What Causes Ice Dams?

Ice dams are an indication of a serious problem in your home. If left unattended ice dams can cause a considerable amount of damage to the structure including damaging roof & gutters, roof framing & sheathing, insulation and interior finishes such as drywall, moldings, etc.

So what causes ice dams? Ice dams are an indication of significant heat loss in a home. This can be due to insufficient insulation, building air leakage, exhaust fans which improperly discharge into attic space, inadequate ventilation or improperly installed "can lighting". These defects cause warmer air to heat the roof sheathing causing snow to melt and run down toward the gutters. When the water gets over the cold eaves it refreezes and creates a sort of dam which catches unfrozen water trying to run down toward the gutters. this unfrozen water, having no path for drainage builds up and begins to push up under shingles causing leakage to occur. Homes with older roofs may have been installed without the benefit of ice-guard which further aggravates the problem. The problems that cause ice dams will be discovered during an energy audit of the building. By de-pressurizing the building using a blower door and scanning the building with infrared equipment we can discover the sources of the leakage which create such conditions. These conditions can then be corrected.

To See a Sample Building Tightness Report Click Here

To See a Detailed Energy Audit Report Click Here

To See a Sample Infrared Report (Bldg. Depressurized 25Pa) Click Here

NAHB Report - Energy Efficiency in Remodeling

Replacing Your Windows? Make Sure to Make Proper Selection. Click Here

Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor

Have a Complaint About a Public Utility in Ohio? Click Here The Ohio Consumer Council is Available to Help You.

Call Today to Schedule a Survey of Your Building or Home

(440) 946-7191

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