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Energy Efficiency Retrofits & Weatherization for Commercial Buildings

• Energy Savings Potential
• Retrofit Business Buildings
  
• Financing Structures
• Policy and Regulatory Factors

An Energy-efficient Retrofit is any improvement to a building which increases its overall energy efficiency.

The following are examples of energy-efficient retrofits which we perform:

• Commercial solar electric installations
• Commercial solar thermal installations
• Air-sealing your building’s thermal boundary
• Installing dense-pack cellulose insulation
• Loose-fill cellulose insulation
• High-density spray urethane foam insulation
• Installing replacement windows and doors
• Sizing and installing proper ventilation
• Industrial Capacitors
• HVAC Replacement

At Arizona Energy Pros, we use our state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment, building science training, and building expertise to not only find the problem areas in your commercial building, but to fix them. Furthermore, we conduct a “test-out” procedure (similar to the initial evaluation process) to verify the success of the energy-efficient retrofit.

Several substantial, durable drivers are expanding the potential market for energy efficiency retrofits in commercial buildings, which can provide energy savings from 10% to more than 50%. In addition to cost savings, energy retrofits are attractive for purposes of greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, energy independence, green branding, property valuation, and productivity. However, the actual market is small compared to its potential, due to an assortment of barriers within various industry segments.

The best-funded opportunities for energy retrofits today are major upgrades in commercial buildings, especially from APS, SRP and TEP. Call 480-420-7869 now to take advantage of the available rebates in energy efficiency upgrades. 

Key questions addressed:

• Where are the biggest opportunities to save energy cost?
• How could federal and state legislation affect your energy efficiency retrofit?
• Which retrofit practices are most cost-effective and value-enhancing?

Air-sealing is simply closing holes, cracks, and gaps where air passes into or out of your building. On hot and cold days, you pay money to operate an air-conditioner, boiler or furnace to maintain a comfortable temperature in your building. A house that leaks air costs more to heat or cool because your heating or cooling system must work longer to “condition” the air. Sitting by such leaks, creates an uncomfortable sensation because the room feels hotter or colder. Sealing air leaks will allow you maintain your building at a comfortable temperature year-round, and help lower energy bills.

The biggest holes are most often found in the attic. These air leaks communicate with other parts of the building assembly in hidden and sometimes unexpected ways. Spray foam, dense-packed cellulose, caulking, and weather-stripping are the most common materials used for air sealing.

Most buildings are not well air-sealed, even new ones.

Arizona ROC License #255816 (C-11), #263121 (L-11)
Address:
3143 E Greenway Rd #601
Phoenix, Az 85032
Phone: 480-420-7869 or 877-481-9182
Email: admin@aepros.com
Web Site: http://www.aepros.com

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Getting an Energy Audit is the best way to find leaks in the home

Small air leaks in attic space, ceiling and walls are a major source of heat loss in many homes.

Sealing Leaks

• Seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts,
• Add insulation to block heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer,
• Choose ENERGY STAR qualified windows when replacing windows.

Many air leaks and drafts are hard to find because they are invisible to the naked eye — like those in the ceiling or in crevices in the walls. Holes hidden in attics, basements, and crawlspaces can lead to wasted electricity and higher utility bills. Sealing these leaks with caulk, spray foam, or weather stripping will have a great impact on improving your comfort and reducing utility bills.

Sealing your house too tightly is not recommended either.  A certain amount of fresh air is needed for good indoor air quality and there are specifications that set the minimum amount of fresh air needed for a house.

Sealing and insulating the “envelope” or “shell” of your home — its outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors — is often the most cost effective way to improve energy efficiency and comfort. ENERGY STAR estimates that a knowledgeable homeowner or skilled contractor can save up to 20% on heating and cooling costs (or up to 10% on their total annual energy bill) by sealing and insulating.

To Seal and Insulate with ENERGY STAR: Schedule an Energy Audit call 480-420-7869 or Click Here to choose your day and time.

Plug the Big Holes First

Don’t worry about finding and sealing all the little holes in your attic; your biggest savings will come from plugging the large ones. Once in the attic, refer to your sketch to locate the areas where leakage is likely to be greatest: where walls (inner and outer) meet the attic floor, dropped soffits (dropped-ceiling areas), and behind or under attic kneewalls.

Look for dirty insulation — this indicates that air is moving through it. Dropped soffits may be filled or covered with insulation and hard to see. Push back the insulation and scoop it out of the soffits. You will place this insulation back over the soffit once the stud cavities have been plugged and the soffits covered.

If You Have a Finished Attic, Seal Behind the Knee Walls

Finished rooms built into attics often have open cavities in the floor framing under the side-walls or kneewalls. Even though insulation may be piled against or stuffed into these spaces, they can still leak air. Again, look for signs of dirty insulation to indicate air is moving through. You need to plug these cavities in order to stop air from traveling under the floor of the finished space.

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Benefits of Duct Sealing & Repair

There are many benefits of duct sealing and repair; keeping your home cool in the summers and warm in the winters. A duct system that is well-designed and properly sealed can make your home more comfortable, energy efficient, and safer.

Lowering Your Energy Bills and Saving Money

Leaky ductwork decreases the efficiency of your air conditioning and heating system by as much as 20 percent. This will lead to higher energy bills. But duct sealing will restore your systems efficiency and put that money back into your pocket where it belongs. Leaky ducts can reduce heating and cooling system efficiency by as much as 20 percent. Sealing and insulating ducts increases efficiency, lowers your energy bills, and can often pay for itself in energy savings. Plus, if you’re planning to install new heating and cooling equipment, a well-designed and sealed duct system may allow you to downsize to a smaller, less costly heating and cooling system that will provide better dehumidification.

Improved Indoor Air Quality

Dust and other pollutants can easily enter your duct system through holes. These pollutants are then circulated throughout your home. Duct sealing can minimize this problem and improve indoor air quality.

Safety

During normal operation, gas appliances such as water heaters, clothes dryers, and furnaces release combustion gases (like carbon monoxide) through their ventilation systems. Leaky ductwork in your heating and cooling system may cause “backdrafting,” where these gases are drawn back into the living space, rather than expelled to the outdoors. Sealing leaks can minimize this risk.

Ductwork not only delivers conditioned air throughout your home, it also expels gases (such as carbon monoxide) from your home. If your ductwork has leaks, however, these gases can leak into your home instead of being expelled. This is a huge safety issue, because these gases can cause health problems and even death.

If you have leaky ductwork, duct sealing is an important step that you can take to protect your family’s health and well being. You can either make duct sealing a do-it-yourself family project, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. (Most air conditioning and heating contractors also repair ductwork). But get started today. Your family’s heath, comfort, and energy budget depend upon it.

Indoor Air Quality & Comfort

Sealing and insulating ducts can help with common comfort problems, such as rooms that are too hot in the summer or too cold in the winter.

Fumes from household and garden chemicals, insulation particles, and dust can enter your duct system, aggravating asthma and allergy problems. Sealing ducts can help improve indoor air quality by reducing the risk of pollutants entering ducts and circulating through your home.

Protect the Environment

Energy used in our homes often comes from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants, which contributes to smog, acid rain, and global warming. Simply put, the less energy we use in our homes, the less air pollution we generate. By sealing your ducts and reducing the amount of energy necessary to comfortably heat or cool your home, you can reduce the amount of air pollution generated.

View the EneryStar Duct Sealing brochure  (2.73MB) to learn more.

Our goal is to help inform our customers about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems).

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Lowering Your Energy Costs in Arizona

Arizona Energy Pros specializes in reducing your electric bills.  We do this though properly installed insulation products & attic ventilation. Arizona Energy Pros will reduce your overall energy consumption, therefore dramatically lowering your monthly bill.

How do I know if I need more insulation?

Sometime more insulation is necessary, but without an energy audit you could be playing guessing games. We recommend a consultation to see what’s really happening in your attic. You may find that a simple insulation tune-up, may do the trick. An insulation tune-up is a readjustment of your current insulation.

Do I have proper Attic Ventilation?

Is poor ventilation in your attic contributing to your out-of-control energy costs? Learn about the role attic ventilation plays in heating and cooling your home and how adequate ventilation, combined with a radiant barrier system, could dramatically lower your bills.

What Does Proper Insulation Look Like?

There are several reasons why insulation usually underperforms in real world applications. The most common are misalignments, bridged areas at soffits or arches, compressed batts or improperly blown in cellulose, and blowback caused by wind at the eves of a home. At first glance everything may look fine but take a closer look – these areas are hard to spot without some digging. Insulation, in order to be most effective, MUST be in contact with the surface that faces the conditioned space. Any gaps or voids allow hot attic air to migrate past and transfer heat to the conditioned space via conduction. Remember that insulation only slows heat transfer, NOT air movement. If the air gets past, it brings heat with it.

Insulation works by providing a continuous boundary of the “building envelope,” between conditioned indoor spaces and unconditioned outdoor spaces. Low levels of insulation, plus gaps and voids in the insulation materials can provide pathways for heat and air to easily flow into or out of a home. Approximately 40 percent of feeling physically comfortable is due to radiant heat exchange between our bodies and the surrounding interior surfaces. Increasing insulation reduces this radiant heat exchange, maintaining a more consistent level of comfort throughout a house.

Will insulation help to lower my utility bills?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Building Technology’s number one recommendation to help consumers reduce energy bills is by adding insulation. Most homes in the United States are not well insulated. Older homes are particularly vulnerable, leading to high heating and air-conditioning bills. Having an energy efficient home starts with proper levels of insulation. When homes are adequately insulated, it takes less energy to heat and cool them than if they were poorly insulated. Insulation in your walls and attic keep the living space conditioned and allow your Heating and/or Air Conditioning source to run more efficiently, thus reducing your energy consumption.

Will getting more insulation make my home more comfortable?

Is your home cold in the winter and hot in the summer? Is the temperature upstairs between 8 to 12 degrees different from the temperature downstairs? Insulating your home will help keep your living space or “Comfort Zone” consistent throughout your home. This makes for a more comfortable living space throughout your home.

Can insulation increase my home resale value?

Installing proper insulation levels can also make your home more attractive to potential buyers. 86% of Americans would choose one home over another based on its energy efficiency. (Energy Pulse Survey, 2006)

But doesn’t my house already have insulation?

It probably doesn’t have enough. In much of the housing in America, attic insulation levels are inadequate at best. That’s because many homebuilders only offer standard (not optimal) levels of attic insulation, in order to maintain competitive selling prices. Obviously, the older the home, the less likely it is to have adequate attic insulation. But even in a newer home, additional attic insulation will save enough money in reduced utility bills to pay for itself, and those savings will, of course, continue year after year. Upgraded attic insulation will also increase the value of your house.

If you can see the top edge of the rafters, you are way under insulated

In a typical home you commonly see several of these problems in varying degrees. Any combination of these problems can have a dramatic effect on the overall home efficiency. The typical home here in the valley has R-30 worth of insulation; however, if JUST 5% of the total insulated area has defects, the R-value can be reduced by up to 50%, bringing the actual R-value of a home to R-15! Heat gain through attics can affect the home in ways that can drive up the cooling costs considerably, especially during summer. It can also make individual rooms hotter than others. Take your time and check all areas carefully because a small inconsistency can cause big problems. Take advantage of a promotion we are running that will help you determine how effective your current insulation is.

Insulation is the most requested energy improvement by our customers. On an existing home, we recommend blown in insulation to fill the gaps where your insulation has over time lost its effectiveness and overall R-value. In the Southwest, especially in Arizona, Radiant Barrier is a great product to add on top of your existing insulation (especially if your insulation material is older) making the combination a better investment and overall R-value more stable over time.

What Types of Insulation is there?

There are some four main types of insulation: spray foam, loose fill, batts and blankets, and rigid board insulation. Your selection will be based on what type of construction, as well as code requirements, and whether its a pre existing home, or a new construction build.

Spray foam insulation is made up of two-part liquid containing a polymer (such as polyurethane or urethane) and of course, a foaming agent. It is applied through a nozzle into the cavity of the wall, ceiling, or floor. As it is sprayed, it then it expands into a solid pourous plastic with literally millions of tiny air-filled cells that then fills the applied space, while compensating for areas not otherwise possible with other insulation types.

Cellulose fiber is composed of recycled newspapers and is chemically treated to be fire and moisture resistant. (It is necessary to check that the bags are clearly labeled to show that the material meets federal prerequisites for fire resistance). By employing a dry-pack or moist-spray process, cellulose fiber can be installed in walls, floors, or attics.

Batt and blanket insulation consists of mineral fiber (either processed fiberglass or rock wool) and is utilized to insulate below floors, above ceilings, and inside walls. Usually, batt insulation is the most economical wall insulation material but demands meticulous installation for proper performance.
This kind of insulation is ideal for a standard joist, rafter, or stud spacing of 16 or 24 inches. Batts and blankets come in widths to firmly fit between the wood-framing members; some include a radiant barrier backing. Batts normally come in lengths of 4 or 8 feet. Blankets come in long rolls that are cut to the specified length for installation. Both batts and blankets typically have an R-value of around R-3 per inch of thickness.

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4 Easy Ways To Save Money On Your Electric Bill

Arizona Solar Pros manages everything you need to reduce your electric bill and power your home with solar energy. We offer everything from LOW COST energy efficiency solutions to high-end solar systems. We can help you finance or lease your solar installation. Here are the steps to get started.

1) – Get an Energy Audit!

For just $99, the APS and SRP Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® inspection will identify improvements that can increase your indoor comfort and decrease energy costs. In most cases, minor repairs and improvements can increase your efficiency by as much as 20%!

Every home is unique and solar technology does not make sense for everyone. In order to determine if solar makes sense for your home, an Energy Consultant will meet with you to understand your energy needs and financial goals; collect 12 months of energy bills to determine how much energy your home is using; find out how much space is available to deploy solar. Finally, many of the incentives are tax based; so we will need to understand your tax situation.

Call 480-420-7869 to set up a home performance checkup.

2) - Energy Efficiency Upgrades

Once all of the information has been collected, Arizona Energy Pros we will prepare a complete energy analysis of your home, including annual cost savings & payback calculations. We will also identify the rebates, tax credits, grants, and depreciation that significantly decreases the net cost of your energy efficiency installation. Below is a list of energy efficiency upgrades you can do to your home:

• Solar Hot Water Heaters
• Duct Seal
• Seal Plenum and Insulate
• Air Seal – infiltration and air barrier seal
• Attic Hatch Seal and Insulate
• Pass Through Vent
• Jumper Ducts
• Insulation Tune-up
• Blown Insulation
• Batt Insulation
• Radiant Barrier
• Window Sun Screens
• Variable Speed Pool Pump
• Solar Hot Water Heater System
• Solar Attic Fan

Call 480-420-7869 to talk to an energy expert.

3) - Purchase a Solar System

A high quality solar system starts with good design. Our engineering team will custom design your solar power system based on your facility’s architecture, and electrical needs. Arizona Solar Pros will work with the solar equipment manufacturers with the latest technology to design high performance solar systems. The design process includes:

• An in depth engineering and logistical analysis.
• Electrical design.
• Structural analysis and design if needed.
• Drawing submission to the permitting authorities.
• Drawing submission to the utility for approval.

We have some of the most competitive prices in the state. Call 480-420-7869 for an energy audit or for a free solar quote.

4) - Lease a Solar System

A Solar Lease with Arizona Energy Pros is a great way to get a solar system with little or no upfront cost. You can gain energy independence, reduce your monthly utility bills and protect yourself from rising energy rates. Solar Leases are smart and affordable. Solar leasing benefits include:

• No Monthly Payments
• No Annual Payments
• Fully Insured
• Full Warranty
• Eligible for a government grant
• Eligible for a utility rebate

You can enjoy the benefits of Energy Independence too. Call now at 480-420-7869 for a free solar quote or to set up an audit.

PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION

Arizona Solar Pros professional installation teams will install your system to our high standards. Lead times vary greatly depending on the technology that we will be using, but typically range from 4-12 weeks depending on the size and complexity of your system. We will work closely with you to ensure you understand all the steps along the way. Our project managers oversee all the building permits, inspections and connections to the utility grid.