Home Efficiency

There are many terms you might encounter as you look to electrify your home, or make it more efficient. Here are some of them!

Heat pumps are electric heating and cooling systems that are highly efficient. Most people are already familiar with heat pumps but don’t know it yet — it’s just an air conditioning unit that can also run in reverse, i.e. to cool and to heat!

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) use the same technology as heat pumps, but are replacements for water heaters. They are typically 2-4x more efficient than regular water heaters.

Thermal / IR analysis: Using an infrared (IR) camera, we can find areas in your house where you’re losing heat. The camera shows the temperature of all objects and surfaces in your home, allowing you to quickly identify where cold in getting in.

A blower door test helps energy professionals determine how much air is entering and leaving your home. It produces a metric - ACH (air changes per hour) - which shows how leaky your home is, and therefore how quickly you’re losing heat to the outside.

Thermostats help you control your heating and cooling systems, telling them to switch on/off and operate at certain temperatures. Smart thermostats adjust their schedule to your comfort needs, and can allow you to control them from outside the home, or to automatically switch on/off if you’re not at home — which helps to reduce your energy bills!

Window inserts are plastic/glass coverings that sit around your window frame to provide an additional layer of insulation for your windows. If you have old or leaky or single paned windows, they can be a very cost effective way to improve window insulation without replacing your windows.

Also known as weatherproofing or air sealing, this reduces air leakage to the outdoors. Typical areas for weatherstripping are around doors and windows. Fireplaces and gaps between floorboards and walls can also be areas of air leakage.

Induction stoves are a type of electric stove, which uses electromagnetic induction to heat your pots and pans. They are more efficient than conventional (radiant) electric stoves, heat up very quickly, and only heat when suitable pots/pans are in place.

Solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are typically placed on the roof and generate electricity when the sun shines. They produce DC (direct current) electricity, which is usually converted to AC (alternating current) for use in the home.

Charging for electric vehicles (EVs) come in 3 flavors — Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 — each at increasing speed of charging.

Level 3 charging is for commercial fast charging (DC charging) - so typically seen on highways (e.g. the Tesla supercharger network).

Level 2 takes place at 240V between 20-50 Amps, and is common in homes and for commercial use. Many homes may require an electrician to install a Level 2 charger.

Level 1 charging takes place at ordinary plug outlets - at 120V and between 15-20 Amps.