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Energy consultant

david72645 | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

I’m looking for recommendations for hiring an energy consultant. I’m in the planning stage for a tight envelope, well insulated, house in Arkansas, but the consultant could be located anywhere. If anyone has a recommendation, I would also appreciate reasons for your recommendation.

I’m specifically looking for recommendations on HVAC and dehumidification. I’ve looked at heat pumps, mini-splits, geothermal and the rest.  I’ve considered hydronics, ductless and ducted.

I see that others have asked similar questions in Q&A and will look over those answers too.

Martin and Dana; do you do consultation?

I already have these websites:
https://www.phius.org/find-a-professional
https://www.resnet.us/
https://www.builditgreen.org/directories/certified-professionals-directory
https://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/article/bulletin-board

Thanks

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Replies

  1. burninate | | #1

    Just two to mention:

    I've learned a bit from watching Corbet Lunsford, now operating in Atlanta, who's tried running a consulting group, producing a television show, making a podcast, and is now vlogging his own custom home construction. https://www.youtube.com/user/GreenDreamGroup/videos

    And of course, Joe Lstiburek in New England, who helped launch this whole field, though if I had to guess, his rates are probably suited for institutional consulting. https://www.buildingscience.com/building-science-corporation-team https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lstiburek

    "Energy consultant" runs the gamut from people like this, down to some guy with a blower door and some spray foam.

  2. burninate | | #2

    Arkansas, like the rest of the South, is on the humid side of things. According to Lew Harriman (New England) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-BUgHkZQ4mE , most of the thermodynamic work done by air conditioning in humid places is dehumidification which is implicitly required in order to lower the temperature. It seems to be a general consensus that separating out dehumidification controls and thermal adjustment of the air supply is an important thing to do.

  3. david72645 | | #3

    I agree that emphasis on dehumidification as a separate system is key.

  4. walta100 | | #4

    You may want to talk with Energy Vanguard out of Georgia as the weather should be similar.

    They have a great blog that is worth reading on their website.

    https://www.energyvanguard.com/

    Walta

  5. david72645 | | #5

    Walter: I am considering Energy Vanguard; Thanks

  6. justinlacy | | #6

    Ditto on Energy Vanguard. Allison did the HVAC design for my new home (construction yet to be started). I'm in zone two south of Houston.

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