
do everything from weather-strip a door to
completely air seal your attic,” Handey remarks.
By using data, they take the guesswork out
of energy savings. One of the tests they run is
home under negative air pressure, which allows
and, if so, to what degree. This test gives the
are pulling air from inside the house and pushing
it out, which allows air from outside or wherever
a computer, they can give the homeowner an
We wondered what the most common energy
have isolated what they have deemed, “The Big
Insulation problems: Most people think their
insulation is adequate or more often than not, they
this is one of the easiest things to correct.
Leaky ductwork: “Ninety-plus percent of my
clients have never once thought of their ductwork
2,000 houses and it is very, very rare that we ever
Handey says. This is especially important for
families who have allergies or asthma and who
22 Bham Family April 2020
ENERGY SAVING STEPS TO TAKE NOW
We all know that weather stripping and insulation
recommends the following less obvious things that
homeowners can do now to kick-start savings.
Determine if your thermostat is outdated.
There are so many new options that are more
accurate and programmable for remote operating
outside of the home.
Don’t keep your interior doors closed. This can
Handey says
last for extended periods of time: “They are not as
effective as buying the cheapest one you can get
your hands on and changing it every 45 days.”
Take a peek at your insulation levels in your
attic. It’s a simple step and only takes a few
minutes. “Basically if you can see the ceiling joists,
you need additional insulation,” Handey says.
Plus, over time these leaks could create a mold
hazard as humidity collects.
communicate with the conditioned airspace in the
cool air, so when your air is running in the summer,
it’s creating pressure changes in the house, and it
summers. (Consider that one customer’s attic
humidity can also cause mold, creating serious health
the most common issues for newer construction is
related to walk-in attic doors upstairs. “When you
have walk-in attics, you have a vertical knee wall,
adding, “You do not want your attic talking to the
conditioned space of the house.”
And Eco Three is focused on helping us all do
keep your family safe, and with increased comfort
always comes savings.
From left to right: The Eco Three Expert Team: David
Wilkerson, Jonathan Handey, Elizabeth Sanfelippo