If I had a nickel for every time a client asked me for an easy way to make their home more energy efficient, I’d be a very rich man. The question has been asked in numerous different ways over the years, but the basic gist is the same: What can…
My old friend from college, Rick, drives cars until they’ve all but turned to dust. My buddies and I all chuckle when we see him cruising down the street in his old ‘91 Ford station wagon. “It still runs like it’s good as new,” he insists, even though the stuffing…
Lucy has smiled and waved at her neighbors for years, never realizing that they were actually inadvertently causing her big problems under the ground. Lucy writes: “I always thought my neighbors and I were on great terms. We’d say hello after work and we’d watch each other’s houses whenever one…
In my job, I tend to have plenty of conversations with homeowners about energy efficiency. Energy efficient windows, energy efficient thermostats, energy efficient HVAC units, and energy efficient insulation: people in Northern California love to talk about these things. But, they mostly like to talk about them all individually. A…
What makes Sacramento one of the most unique cities in California is the wide variety of homes that one finds in the city’s many distinct neighborhoods, from the old Victorians in Midtown to mid-century dwellings in places like Curtis and Tahoe Park to the fancier, classic styles in a neighborhood…
Jeff lives in Folsom and loves the big windows that he has in his house… at least, he usually does. This summer has been blazingly hot (even by Northern California standards), and Jeff wants to know the best way to cool down a house with big windows. He writes: “The…
One of the best parts of my job is making simple changes and upgrades to people’s homes, be it to their windows, pipes, or their HVAC systems, to help them conserve more energy in a big way. I may not look like a stereotypical tree-hugger, but I really care about…
As I’ve talked about in the past, Elk Grove is one of the most friendly cities in the country for young homeowners, with about 60 percent of the Millennials who live there actually owning their own houses. It’s also one of the cities in our area that has grown the…
Summers are my favorite time of year here in Northern California. I love the intense heat, but welcome slipping into my cool, air conditioned home after being out in the sunshine. There’s really nothing more refreshing in the summer months—other than an ice cold glass of lemonade, I suppose. Lemonade,…
Contrary to what my friends and family all think, my job isn’t entirely ductwork and filters and coolant leaks (although, that stuff is a big part of it). There’s also a good deal of emotional support involved with what I do, especially when an HVAC system breaks down during the…
