Portland Energy Efficient Construction, Residential Retrofitting, Energy Conservation, Home Evaluations | Faison Energy Solutions

Residential Services

• Energy Audits
• Energy modeling
• Insulation (traditional and high performance)
• Air sealing
• Duct Sealing and repair
• Heating Systems
• Heat pumps and air conditioners
• HVAC heat loss calculations and system balancing
• Mechanical ventilation (heat/energy recovery ventilators)
• Renewables (Solar, wind and geothermal)
• Energy Efficient Windows and Doors
• Water management lashing, gutter, basement solutions, etc.
• Chimney caps and dampers
• Roofing and siding

Energy Audits

An energy audit begins with a meeting with you, the owner to help us better understand what you know about your home and what your goals are with an energy retrofit. We then perform a comprehensive insulation assessment of your entire home, from top to bottom. This assessment will also help identify areas of your home that are in need of air sealing. We take thorough measurements so that we can provide you with accurate pricing for improving the insulation where you need it. We also note any water management issues and take a survey of your existing ventilation, in attics and crawlspaces, to determine if it is adequate.

Air Leakage Test

For a thorough and accurate measurement of air leakage in your home, we conduct an air leakage test, also known as a blower door test. A blower door test, which depressurizes a home, can reveal the location of many leaks. A complete energy audit will also help determine areas in your home that need more insulation.

Duct Leakage Test

If your home has duct work in a crawlspace or vented attic,a duct leakage test is in order. It’s important to do this to measure how much air is leaking out of your duct work into this unconditioned spaces. Sealing these leaks can be one of the most cost effective measures that we can perform. However, a test will tell us just how important duct sealing is in your home.

Combustion Safety Testing

If you have a gas furnace and/or water heater, a combustion safety test should be conducted prior to any work. We do this because older furnaces and common gas water heaters are highly susceptible to back drafting exhaust gases. If they are not exhausting well, this could create carbon monoxide problems. It is important to identify problems that could occur such as these as your safety is paramount.

Energy Modeling

With our energy modeling software we can evaluate your homes thermal performance and input the selected recommendations to determine the most cost-effective solutions so that you can make informed decisions about how to prioritize the work.

Insulation

Often times insulation is installed incorrectly, compressed, or damaged by pests. Other times, wall insulation is non existent. We can help you determine the best approach to improve the insulation in your home and ensure its long term durability for years to come. Whether traditional or high performance insulation makes sense, we can help determine the appropriate solution to meet your goals.

Air Sealing

It is very important to air seal before we insulate, to keep that heated air inside your home where it belongs. Poorly air sealed ceilings can also result in elevated moisture levels in attics leading to mold. Poorly air sealed floors will allow cold air (in the winter) to infiltrate your home, so we will thoroughly air seal all floor penetrations prior to insulating.

Duct Sealing and Repair

If you have ducts in a vented crawlspace or attic, it’s important that your ducts be sealed properly to minimize the amount of heated or cooled air that escapes into these spaces. We are PTCS (Performance Tested Comfort Systems) certified to ensure that you get all incentives possible and ensure that the duct sealing work is done correctly so that the system will be durable for years to come.

Heating Systems

We have a firm grasp on furnaces and heat pumps and can help you determine the best approach for either improving your existing system or recommending a replacement or auxiliary system to meet your comfort and energy efficiency goals. We will also ensure that the furnace is not over sized for your home, but optimized for performance and comfort.

Water Heaters

We thoroughly understand water heater and can help improve your existing hot water system or make recommendations on options for upgrading, replacing or adding additional hot water systems. Whether a tank, tankless, hybrid or heat pump water heater makes sense, we can help direct your decision to meet your goals.

Heat pumps and air conditioning

Heat pumps can be highly efficient and are perfect for some situations. Heat pumps have the added benefit of cooling abilities in addition to heating, but sometimes heat pumps alone will not provide adequate heat to adequately heat your home. High efficiency air conditioners are also available in the event that you require cooling and already have an updated furnace.

HVAC heat loss calculations and system balancing

In order for your home to heat and cool evenly throughout, heat loss calculations will determine the amount of heated and cooled air that should be supplied to each room. A system should then be properly balanced to ensure that these calculated volumes of air are in fact reaching the intended rooms.

Mechancial Ventilation

If you have a very tight home, mechanical ventilation should be provided to supply fresh air to your home as well as to dilute contaminants in the indoor air. Heat or energy recovery ventilators are an efficient way of doing this by extracting energy from the outgoing air and preheating incoming fresh air. Exhaust ventilation is also very important to ensure that moist air is being adequately exhausted from the areas that it is created, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Overly humid air inside a home can result in mold and mildew problems, so it’s important to exhaust as much of this moist air as possible to avoid problems.

Renewables

Renewable energy such as solar, wind and geothermal are incredible ways to reduce our bills and carbon footprint. After investing in the efficiency of your home’s envelope, renewable energy generation can be an excellent choice, especially with the many incentives currently available to invest.

Energy Efficient Windows and Doors

Although windows and doors can be low on the totem pole for energy savings, there are some very good reasons to replace your windows or doors with energy efficient models. Energy efficient windows and doors can make a space more comfortable reducing that cold surface, leading to a feeling of draftiness. That feeling is typically not drafts at all, but a sensation that we perceive as a draft due to heat radiating from our bodies to the cold surface of the window. Replacing older windows can also do a lot for the value of your home.

Water Management

It’s a proven fact that insulated homes don’t dry out as quickly as non insulated homes, since heat can readily move through the building envelope, drying up water on its way through. However, not insulating is not the answer. The answer is proper water management. Whether it’s simple flashing, gutters, downspouts or basement water management systems, we are armed with solutions that will help your home deal with water in this climate. Did you know that most water problems in basements are due to simple gutter and downspout problems? Have us take a look at your situation to assess how your home can deal with the water.

Chimney Caps and Dampers

A fireplace with a non existent or non functioning damper can equate to leaving a window open 6″ year-round. You may not feel it, but when you are heating your home, put a lit incense stick by your fireplace. If smoke is being drawn up the chimney, then that’s energy escaping as well. If you have a good damper, but no rain cap, a rain cap will ensure that your damper doesn’t get rusted and become inoperable. If you need a damper, perhaps a quality dampered chimney cap is the answer. The right solution can save you bundles on your energy bills while still allowing your fireplace to remain operable for that glowing ambiance.

Reasons

• Save on utility bills
• Increase the comfort of your home
• Ensure a safe environment for your family
• Maintain your home and increase its long term durability
• Get ahead of the raising energy costs
• Increase the value of your property
• It’s the right thing to do

We are a Home Performance Energy Trust Trade Ally and
We are Clean Energy Works Oregon Contractors.

Call us at 503-477-9501 or fill out our online contact form.