Something that's been gaining steam among homeowners, realtors and auditors is the home energy rating, which allows us to compare and certify homes on an energy efficiency basis. Jon Shafer of PowerHouse ICS will guide us through scoring a home using a HERS audit and describe to us how this rating system compares to others you may have heard of. View
Continuing with our 'IR Series' we'll follow Tim Page on a home energy audit way up in northern Vermont. He'll show us how practical infrared imaging can be to locate insulation and air sealing issues in a home that exhibits a wide array of building practices. View
And you think your crew and supply logistics are tough to manage... we're out in the bush- in Goodnews Bay, Alaska on a rare sunny day. WxTV is going to show you weatherization in a remote Yup'ik Eskimo village on the Bering Sea where everything is unique. From shipping supplies in on a barge, to hiring crew members from the local village down to the measures installed to keep these residents warm during the brutal Alaskan winters. View
As part of our Consumer Education Series, WxTV will take a look at things that you can do as the homeowner to start saving money on your energy bills. We'll start with some of the most basic improvements and work our way up to things that are a bit more involved or costly. View
In this Technical Short we take a look at 2-part polyurethane spray foam. We've invited a rep to our Lab to demonstrate a lightweight, disposable kit that might be a good alternative to larger set-ups for some jobs. View
Insulating an attic is one of the cornerstones of weatherization. On a six degree day in Fargo, ND, Doug Bakke and crew will show us what to look for when prepping and sealing an attic and then blowing in cellulose to reach an R50 target. View
In the final part of this series, Ben will break down the results of our blower door test and sum up the major findings. But first WxTV will take an animated look at the physics happening when we run a blower door. Ben's Toolbox Feature - tools used during the blower door process View
The second part of this series will pick up with our blower door test from the moment we turn on the manometer. We'll also get to find out what the major infiltrations of this house are as Ben searches for air leakage. To start things off though, Anthony Cox stopped by WxTV to talk a bit about building science. View
WxTV will take a look at the ins and outs of blower door testing. To make things even more interesting we'll be testing the tightness of a strawbale house. In this first part, Ben will walk us through the pre-test inspection, prep of the home and setup of the blower door. View
We'll take a look at sealing some common leaky spots in ductwork. Cal Steiner will show us how to seal up those duct boots properly as well as stuffing and sealing the ends of duct runs. View