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Posts tagged Bill

AC Can’t Keep Up with Heat

AC Can’t Keep Up with Heat

Heat waves require active management of your home. Here are the strategies that will give your AC the best chance of keeping up on hot days. If you don’t have AC, you’ll also find tips to make your home as comfortable as possible through a heat wave…READ MORE

AC, HVACBill HoelzerAugust 4, 2023Bill

Case Study: Attic Insulation - Portland, Oregon

Case Study: Attic Insulation - Portland, Oregon

If you’re like most people, you don’t think about your attic very often. Do you know what it looks like up there? If you don’t have enough insulation, adding insulation is the most cost effective upgrade most people can do to bring down their energy bills … READ MORE

InsulationBill HoelzerJuly 10, 2023insulation, Attic Insulation, Bill

Case Study: Net Zero Energy Homes - Portland

Case Study: Net Zero Energy Homes - Portland

If you have a net zero energy home, then you produce more energy than you consume in a year. Sounds great, but where do you start? How do go about making your home net zero. and what does it cost? We’re sharing the story of Ryan, Megan, and … READ MORE

Insulation, Net Zero, Heat PumpBill HoelzerJuly 6, 2023Bill

One of the Best Green Workplaces in Oregon

One of the Best Green Workplaces in Oregon

GreenSavers is ranked as one of the 100 Best Green Workplaces in Oregon. The rankings from Oregon Business magazine are based on more than 15,000 anonymous surveys from employees across Oregon. Employees at GreenSavers reported … READ MORE

Bill HoelzerJune 9, 2023Bill

Heat Pump Maintenance

Heat Pump Maintenance

Heat pumps and ductless heat pumps are easy to operate. That said, they operate differently than furnaces and air conditioners. Here you’ll find the top 10 tips to maintain your ductless heat pump and get reliable, energy efficient performance … READ MORE

Ductless Heat Pump, Heating and Cooling, HVAC, Maintenance, Heat PumpBill HoelzerMay 4, 2023Bill

Heat Pump vs AC Cost // Heat Pump vs Furnace Cost

Heat Pump vs AC Cost // Heat Pump vs Furnace Cost

It’s not easy to compare options for heating and cooling. For example, an electric heat pump may be more efficient than a gas furnace, but gas is relatively inexpensive. Will you end up saving money on your energy bills? Here’s what to know … READ MORE

Heat Pump, Heating, AC, CoolingBill HoelzerFebruary 2, 2023heat pump, hvac, ac, heating, Bill

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter in Oregon

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter in Oregon

Here's how to know if you’re not ready for the winter here in Oregon: (1) A room or floor of your home gets consistently colder; (2) you notice drafts of cold air; (3) you see mold or condensation; or (4) your get ice dams (Central Oregon) … READ MORE

InsulationBill HoelzerNovember 11, 2022Bill

Oregon Net Metering: Here's How It Works

Oregon Net Metering: Here's How It Works

Net metering allows you to offset the cost of the electricity that you buy from your utility with renewable energy that you generate from your rooftop solar panels. If you generate more power than you need in a month, then you get credits that you … READ MORE

SolarBill HoelzerOctober 11, 2022Solar, Bill

How Long Do Vinyl Windows Last?

How Long Do Vinyl Windows Last?

Vinyl windows last between 20 and 40 years. That’s a big range. A more interesting question - What factors lead to a longer lifespan for vinyl windows? This article explores the four factors that have the biggest impact on how long vinyl windows last … READ MORE

WindowsBill HoelzerJuly 22, 2022windows, Bill

Solar or Heat Pump?

Solar or Heat Pump?

Which should you install first? Solar or a heat pump? If you have a limited budget, you have to prioritize. In this article, we'll share a few considerations to help homeowners choose between solar, heat pumps, and other home energy upgrades … READ MORE

Solar, Heat PumpBill HoelzerJune 8, 2022Solar, Bill

Attic Foam Board Insulation in Portland + Bend

Attic Foam Board Insulation in Portland + Bend

The choice between foam board and cellulose comes down to this: How do you want to use your attic space? If you want to use your attic for storage or a new bedroom, go with rigid foam board insulation. If yon’t need the space, choose … READ MORE

InsulationBill HoelzerApril 27, 2022Bill

4 Easy Ways to Save Water and Energy

4 Easy Ways to Save Water and Energy

Accounting for 17% of energy bills, water heating stands as the second largest energy expense for the average American. This article offers low and no cost strategies you can use to save energy in your bathroom and laundry room … READ MORE

Bill HoelzerFebruary 21, 2022Bill

Showcase for Energy Efficiency in Portland

Showcase for Energy Efficiency in Portland

We started with a 50-year old building that had fallen into serious disrepair. Now our new office stands as a showcase for energy efficiency in the Pacific Northwest. On display, you’ll find more than five styles of heat pumps, and so much more … READ MORE

Bill HoelzerFebruary 18, 2022Bill

10 Tips for Home Maintenance This Spring

10 Tips for Home Maintenance This Spring

If you’re thinking about spring cleaning and maintenance, please keep our tips in mind. The main takeaways: You’ll want to check your home for issues with ventilation and moisture damage, then prepare your AC or heat pump for the months ahead…READ MORE

Bill HoelzerFebruary 4, 2022Bill

Case Study: Replace Furnace with Heat Pump

Case Study: Replace Furnace with Heat Pump

Galen had a 22 year old furnace. He knew it had to go, and he wanted to add central AC. So it came down to this: Should he replace the gas furnace with another furnace and add AC? Or should he replace the furnace with pump for both heating and cooling? READ MORE

Heat PumpBill HoelzerJanuary 20, 2022Bill

Case Study: Window Replacement - Portland, OR

Case Study: Window Replacement - Portland, OR

The previous owners called the home office “the cold room.” Amanda and her family had just moved in, and she knew she couldn’t live this way. The windows let in so much cold air that it felt like “having air conditioning when you didn’t want it.” READ MORE

WindowsBill HoelzerNovember 10, 2021windows, case study, Bill

The Best Heat Pump Water Heater

The Best Heat Pump Water Heater

This article offers and apples-to-apples comparison of the two leading brands of heat pump water heaters - Rheem and AO Smith. You’ll get a breakdown of the costs, efficiency, capacity, and warranties for each brand. The best heat pump water heater is…READ MORE

Bill HoelzerOctober 26, 2021Bill

Case Study: Mitsubishi Heat Pump in Bend, OR

Case Study: Mitsubishi Heat Pump in Bend, OR

Our client Brodie M. finally had enough. He lived in part of Deschutes County with no gas service, so he relied primarily on a pellet stove to heat his home through the winter. He got tired of feeding the stove all day, then waking up to a 50° house…READ MORE

Heat PumpBill HoelzerSeptember 1, 2021Bill

How Does a Ducted Heat Pump Work?

How Does a Ducted Heat Pump Work?

This article gives you an inside look at how a ducted heat pump works. Since 2007, we’ve installed hundreds of heat pumps for homeowners in Oregon. A heat pump can save 50% on energy bills compared to conventional systems. We’ll show you how…READ MORE

Heat PumpBill HoelzerAugust 19, 2021Bill

Milgard vs. Andersen vs. Marvin Windows

Milgard vs. Andersen vs. Marvin Windows

This article compares the costs and features of three leading window brands - Milgard, Andersen, and Marvin. Since 2007, we’ve helped hundreds of homeowners in Oregon choose the right windows for their homes. When choosing windows, it’s important to…READ MORE

WindowsBill HoelzerJuly 7, 2021windows, brands, Bill