communityspotlight
physical inspection. They then prepare
a list of prioritized needs and recom-
mendations, and the improvement
begins. The most common problems are
Within hours on the cool day that
air leaks, especially in the attic. “Even
Cecile Newcomb had her attic sealed
if there’s insulation, it doesn’t work if
and insulated by Energy Check of
air can get through it.” They do a lot
Blacksburg, she felt the difference. “We
of work on crawl spaces and heating
had the work done in the morning,
systems, too.
and by the afternoon the house was so
Energy Check can do the work, or
much warmer that I walked around and
homeowners can do it themselves. “We
turned down the thermostats,” she said.
give you a prioritized list, so you know
This delighted her, not only because
what needs to be done first,” Newcomb
of the energy and cost savings for her
advised, adding that people can do it
family, but also because she happens
all at once, or take a month or a year or
to manage the business that did the
A Greener World,
longer. “It’s not that hard if you follow
work. “When I tell people how well this
the steps.”
works, I really know because I live with
One House at a Besides Tuchler and Newcomb,
it,” she said.
Newcomb is the business director
Time
Energy Check has other experts on staff.
Contractor Nick Hanson has a building
of Energy Check, which evaluates both
construction degree from Virginia Tech,
new and existing homes for energy
is HERS-certified, trained with the na-
efficiency and helps homeowners go
by karen Adams
tional program Building Performance In-
about making improvements. The busi-
stitute (BPI), and spent time in the Peace
ness grew out of Shelter Alternatives,
Corps in Africa building solar water-
Inc. of Blacksburg, an award-winning
treatment systems. Building analyst Joe
green building company owned by Ed with a new, “green” home, Newcomb
Mugavero does the home performance
Tuchler. “Ed wanted to offer a service to advises that it’s simply not always pos-
assessments; he has a background in
the community to help people reduce sible. However, existing homes, regard-
construction work and also is BPI-certi-
their homes’ carbon footprint,” said less of age, also benefit. “And there are
fied. They both work with the field crew,
Newcomb. “He has a passion for build- a lot of beautiful, older homes that are
Jason Klawitter and Tim Scheppard, to
ing science and wanted to incorporate leaking lots of carbon into the air,” said
take each project from beginning to end.
it into everything that Shelter Alterna- Newcomb. Any improvement helps the
It can be hard and dirty work,
tives does.” He hired Newcomb, whose house, the people who live there, and
Newcomb said, but it’s all worth it
background in property management the environment.
when they retest the house afterwards
and renovation was the foundation for A typical project includes a visit to
and show the homeowner the improve-
the building science training that came assess the home and test its structure,
ments. “It’s so exciting to offer this to
with her new job. She is now a certified insulation, air leakage, moisture, com-
people,” she said, knowing how terrific
HERS (Home Energy Rating Services) fort, energy loss, and combustion (car-
a comfortable, energy-efficient house
Rater, and oversees the management of bon monoxide safety). Energy Check
feels. “They’re really grateful for it, and
Energy Check. (whose motto is “A hole in your home
everybody wins.”
Any homeowner, new or estab- is a hole in your pocket”) uses a blower
lished, can benefit from this work. door, duct blaster, and infrared scan to For more information,
While many folks would like to start detect energy loss, along with the visit WeCheckEnergy.com.
Home energy audits by energy CHeCk
Money isn’t all you save.
increase the comfort, health and
value of your home and improve
the environment.
wecheckenergy.com
540-443-9966
health • comfort • safety • energy efficiency
Left to Right: Joe Mugavero,
Cecile Newcomb and Nick Hanson
Call now to schedule your homes Energy Check...you’ll save more than you spend.
10
Southwestern Virginia
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