Is a Geothermal Heat Pump a Renewable Energy Source?
Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes explains why geothermal systems are not renewable options.
Author: Allison Bailes, III, PhD
Allison A. Bailes III, PhD of Decatur, Georgia, is the founder and owner of Energy Vanguard in Decatur, GA, and the author of the Energy Vanguard Blog. Also, check out his in-depth course, Mastering Building Science at Heatspring Learning Institute, and follow him on Twitter at @EnergyVanguard
A Little History Behind “Tons” of Air Conditioner Capacity
Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes explains why customers get confused by the term “tons” when you are talking about their AC units.
Building Science 101: Three Fundamental Rules for Houses
Allison Bailes is taking contractors back to the fundamentals with his article on Building Science 101.
The Wrong Way to Retrofit a Furnace in a Spray Foam Insulated Attic
There is a right and wrong way to do things. Allison Bailes explains the wrong way to retrofit a furnace in a spray foam insulated attic.
Thermal Bypasses Can Thwart the Best HVAC Systems
Building Science Expert Allison Bailes explains why you have to look beyond the box to solve comfort issues or else heat will continue to escape from houses.
The Three Types of Heating and Cooling Loads
Load calculations are extremely important to proper installation. Allison Bailes explains the three types.
Do Electrical Junction Box Gaskets Really Work?
It’s possible that the breezes your customers are feeling in their homes are because of the electrical junction box gaskets. Allison Bailes explains in his latest blog.
The Building Enclosure Duct Blunder
Just because a design is good, doesn’t mean the installation will be. Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes, explains in this example.
An ERV Is Not A Dehumidifier
It’s commonly believed that ERVs help reduce humidity. Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes explains why this just isn’t true.
This Technique Is Supposed To Improve IAQ But May Do The Opposite
Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes did a humidity experiment this summer and now he shares why leaving your AC fan running continuously is bad news for comfort.
Why Are You Still Using Bypass Ducts in Zoned Systems?
Bypass ducts in zoned systems aren’t bad if done properly. Allison Bailes explains why they often aren’t done right and how it hurts a home’s performance.
Duct Leakage Steals Twice
Duct leakage is a big deal. Building Science Expert, Allison Bailes explains why.
4 Ways Bad Ducts Lead to Bad IAQ
IAQ in homes is important for the health and comfort of your customers. So make sure your ducts aren’t in bad shape, because date ducts equal bad IAQ.
The Two Primary Causes of Reduced Airflow in Ducts
While it may not seem true, there are only 2 primary things that reduce airflow in ducts. Allison Bailes explains what they are and how to correct them.
The Mystery of the Crawl Space Water Puddle
Sometimes home performance is about being a good detective. Here is an example of how some super sleuthing helped a homeowner breathe easier.
The Case Of The Duct That Wasn’t There
I saw the photo below on the Structure Tech Facebook page recently. (They’re a home inspection company in Minnesota that […]
Do You Really Need To Install That Humidifier?
Ideally, a home’s relative humidity (RH) should be in the range of about 30% to 50%. For a lot of […]
Two Common HVAC Pitfalls In Spray Foam Insulated Attics
Earlier this year I got a question about a home that had spray foam insulation in the attic. Nothing unusual […]
5 Ways To Deal With Crawl Space Air
The air in a crawl space can have a huge impact on a home’s durability and indoor environmental quality If […]
