On Oct. 20, 2009, members of the TBW environment committee gathered for a presentation on home energy efficiency. Mike O’Connell, weatherization guru from The Insulating Professionals/Hayes Company, and Barry Dicker, energy auditor and entrepreneur from Decent Energy, Inc., teamed up to facilitate our meeting.
Mike and Barry focused on practical aspects of home energy efficiency retrofits, especially things a homeowner can implement on a do-it-yourself (DIY) basis. They discussed the importance of air flow, crack and duct sealing, home health considerations, and the economics of improvements. A fair bit of our meeting was dedicated to understanding different symptoms, such as when parts of a home are too hot, cold, stuffy or stale smelling. These symptoms can indicate underlying problems with a home, many of which might have simple, inexpensive remedies.
We concluded with some hands-on work in the basement of a home being prepped for an efficiency retrofit. After spending time in the basement with Mike and Barry, we know that there is nowhere to go but up!
To get in touch with Mike O'Connell, call 816-941-2510 or email tipinkc@kc.rr.com.
To reach Barry Dicker, call 913-440-0744, ext. 521, or bmd@decentenergy.com.