Success Stories

Contractors and Customers have great things to say about the Home Performance Upgrade process:

"Sonoma County is fortunate to have one of two such programs in California. Essentially, our county government gives us a loan to retrofit (my contractor prefers the words “Energy Optimize”) our homes. This loan covers all the costs of such work by giving us a 20 year loan at 7% that is added to our property tax to be paid twice a year. This deal was too good to turn down!  Not only would I end up with a more comfortable home by tightening all the air leaks and adding insulation and an energy efficient furnace, I would also be doing my part to help green Sebastopol and the planet."  Download the article (PDF format) or read online.

"The coolest part is that you can do this right and prove you're doing it right as you go," contractor Robert Mitchell said. "It gives home improvement a science." Robert, owner of Renu in Fairfax, was the subject of an article in HOME ENERGY Magazine. Download the article (PDF format)

"It was embarrassing for me not to be able to answer questions about some of the problems in my clients' homes," said contractor Gary Richardson. "That prompted me to seek out the CBPCA and learn how to fix these homes in a more thorough manner. Now I can offer comprehensive solutions. The CBPCA training pulled it all together for me."

"I killed three birds with one stone-–our comfort level dramatically increased, our utility bills dramatically decreased and our health problems were solved," homeowner Matt Nutting, said, "Even if I didn't save money on my utility bills, I still would have been happy just solving the health problems."

"Since our heating system was replaced our house was reinsulated, our living environment has become much more comfortable. There are no more drafty rooms! The comprehensive testing is an especially useful tool for decision-making." Beth Shannon, homeowner.

"We don't have the air conditioner hooked up yet, but it was in the 80s this weekend, and with all the other improvements the house was so comfortable that we didn't have to open the windows." Jim Jordan, homeowner.

"I chose Advanced Home Energy (AHE) to provide energy performance testing and remediation work while remodeling our 1915 Craftsman home in Oakland, California.  With our green renovation we planned (and succeeded) to receive the highest LEED platinum rating, along with certification under California¹s Green Point Rated. For such a high standard we needed to tighten up the house to air infiltration, from outside and within. This required choosing a reputable home performance contractor that had the knowledge and experience to achieve the highest results.

Photo credit: Advanced Home Energy www.advancedhomeenergy.com

AHE came highly recommended. They tested the tightness of our home using a blower-door and measured how much the house leaked. AHE’s staff quickly identified the areas where the house was leaking and sealed up the holes and cracks.  Once the work was finished, they tested the house again with the blower door and confirmed that their work had brought the house below our target level; a 50% improvement in one day!  They were professional and overall provided excellent work. I highly recommend their services to others interested in making their home more energy efficient and green." David Gottfried, Home Owner, CEO, Regenerative Ventures Founder, U.S. Green Building Council