This morning I have had the chance to flit in and out of several sessions at NESEA's BuildingEnergy 10 conference.
I'm not hearing preaching, I am hearing teaching. The audiences are professionals in the energy efficiency field, and they are learning from experienced practitioners. This is not about why we should improve the efficiency of our homes. It's about how to get it done — and how to make a successful business doing it.
A common message that we preach (er, teach) at Energy Circle is that measurement is an essential tool to make sure you do the job right. Order matters, too. It's not only a waste of time to insulate without doing air sealing and weatherization first. It's just as likely to create trap moisture that can encourage rot, pests and mildew. The house is a system; these sessions are about the science of building, designing or retrofitting a home.
As I listen and learn, I am coming to see that the equation for successful improvements in energy efficiency (known as "building performance") require more than the knowledge of how to use a caulk gun. They require experience, practice, and the smarts needed to interpret the data of a home's performance. The level of the audience here is very high indeed. These are not typical contractors; they are true pros, who know and are learning what it takes to make their work work better.
As the nation continues to talk about Home Star, or "Cash for Caulkers", it's clear we're going to need a lot of folks all around the country to teach, learn and share this knowledge. That way, we get meaningful work done, not just "slap dash" projects that tackle surface level problems.
This is not to say that all energy efficiency improvements require the hand of a pro. Many jobs can be done by almost anyone. Doing it yourself is definitely part of the mix.
But if you're thinking about making changes that are more than trivial, the first place to start is with an energy auditor. You need someone who can help you understand not only the current measurements of your house, but also what needs doing, and how to get it done. Most important, that pro can then return and re-audit after you've made your first round of improvements.
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