EEBA Academy

Most builders think of window attachments like shades and blinds as nothing more than decorative features that the homeowner will add when they move in. Think again. New research from the U.S. Department of Energy shows that insulated shades can cut heating and cooling costs by as much as 10% to 25%, respectively, especially if they are raised and lowered at the right times of the day and season. In addition to lowering utility bills, window attachments can also cut glare, improve indoor comfort, and occupant well-being.

New Thermally-driven Heat Pumps (THPs) have been developed as a packaged solution to provide both space heating and domestic hot water, achieving an equivalent of 140% AFUE in both lab and field environments and represent a new product category for residential space heat, being built by multiple manufacturers.

Through the DOE Building America program, GTI, the University of Illinois, and MEEA are studying the impact that strategic air sealing and the introduction of supply and exhaust ventilation has on energy consumption and indoor air quality.

You've heard about cold climate air source heat pumps (ccASHP). Maybe you've seen a few installed. Let's look at some pros and cons of using this technology in challenging climate conditions. From a new construction perspective, we will discuss strategies for system design, installation, and operation.