Case Studies
BPI Certified Professionals and BPI GoldStar Contractors are trained to investigate the source of problems in your home. There are some common issues among most of the existing housing stock, but different geographical regions may be plagued by particular issues such as mold, wet basements, or excess dust. Read these stories of homeowners who were experiencing problems, called a BPI Certified Professional, and enjoyed the results of home energy upgrades.
New York Chills
Margo and Eric Shuff complained about their home being colder than usual in the winter. And it was. In particular, the floors were freezing in the kitchen and it made the home very uncomfortable. They tried to adjust the heat to accommodate the low temperatures which made their heating bills skyrocket.
ENERGY AUDIT RESULTS
The Shuffs contacted Powersmith, a BPI GoldStar Contractor, to do an evaluation of their home and assess the potential for home performance improvements. The Shuffs suffered from cold floors, which were explained when Powersmith discovered that the home had a crawl space with no vapor barrier and an uninsulated basement. The attic needed work, as well. There was a lot to be done.
SOLUTIONS
The professionals at Powersmith did a full retrofit for the Shuffs, including air sealing all the open areas in the home and basement. They installed cellulose insulation in the external walls of the house, spray foam to crawl spaces and basement rim joists, and cellulose to the open attic. This combination of insulation types ensured that the best and most cost-effective solutions were used. A plastic vapor barrier installed in the crawlspace was key to ensuring the cold floors in the kitchen and the rest of the house would be drastically improved.
PROJECT OUTCOME
The improvements to the home were immediately evident. The family was comfortable in the space and were delighted by the unexpected benefits of a house that was not only warmer, more efficient, and healthier, but also much quieter after the insulation was installed and blocked out street noise.
