Any kind of commercial structure or building needs to plan for the climatic conditions. The sheer range of weather conditions from humid summers to snowy winters can often lead to a high level of energy consumption. Weatherizing your business is a smart and economical way to save money on your investment. We offer a wide variety of products for commercial businesses to use, to save money, and ensure efficiency in their work. Office buildings in the U.S. use an average of 17 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 32 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot annually. In a typical commercial construction project, lighting, heating, and cooling represent about 65 percent of the total energy use, making those systems the best targets for energy savings. Long-term measures include changes in:

• Lighting: This consists of installing compact fluorescent lighting. We have a wide selection of fluorescent bulbs for you to use in your building. Each bulb is reasonably priced and are more than triple the amount of watt generation that regular incandescent bulbs. This energy consumption saves you money in the long run, since most lighting in a building stays on longer than normal. Making this a huge return on your investment.
• Demand-Controlled Ventilation: Many general contractors use or are familiar with demand-controlled ventilation (DCV) systems, which are excellent additions for offices that have fluctuating occupancies. The DCV senses the level of carbon dioxide in the return air stream and uses it as an indicator of occupancy. DCV systems are particularly applicable to spaces like cafeterias, auditoriums and indoor parking garages. Air infiltration is important in a building which is why we offer cooler covers for your system to keep them controlled and maintained throughout the work day.
• Reflective Building Roof Coating: consider painting or re-coating the roof of your structure white or some other highly reflective color. This minimizes the amount of heat the building absorbs and can often result in a reduction of as much as 15 to 20 percent in the peak cooling demand. If painting is out of the question consider radiant barriers for your ceiling fixtures. This product is designed to reflect up to 97% of the radiant heat that hits its surface, which significantly reduces the amount of heat entered into the building.

Weatherizing your commercial business is a smart solution especially with the coming of spring and summer time. Summer is the time of year where commercial buildings tend to waste more energy which results in money down the drain. Investing in proper weatherization products will help ensure that your company saves money, while also saving the environment. Contact us today to learn more about weatherization and how we can help your company become more energy efficient.

Service Partners, LLC, headquartered outside of Richmond, Virginia, is the largest distributor of residential fiberglass insulation and related contractor accessories in North America. Through its nationwide network of distribution centers, the company supplies insulation, insulation accessories, water conservation plumbing supply, and a host of other products and services related to energy conservation. We distribute to thousands of contractors and retailers.

Service Partners’ earned reputation for outstanding customer service results in ever increasing numbers of long-standing relationships with customers and key vendors. The company’s maintenance of an extensive inventory, flexibility in terms of timing and delivery of product, comprehensive offerings of products, and superior product knowledge provide significant advantages to its customer base as compared to other sources of supply.

When you think of anything related to “residential energy conservation”, think “Service Partners, LLC”. We are America’s leader for quality AND value!

Many projects that contractors undertake require filling, insulating and sealing. Foam Guns can make these tasks much easier and quicker. Foam guns allow construction personnel greater control over the product, resulting in preventing waste and improved accuracy. These tools are essential for any new build or remodeling project. The end result is always cleaner, faster and reliable for your job and the customer.

One positive of these foam guns are the re-usability. Simply, replace the foam canister in the foam gun and within no time you’re back on the job insulating. Remember, you should avoid applying foams and sealants in temperatures under 41 degrees Fahrenheit as this can negatively affect drying and adhesion.

Foam insulation is a hot item in today’s market and a great selling point for your business. Get your very own Foam Gun here!

Home-owners and contractors often look for various resources where they can find information on the technical aspects of their weatherization efforts. We all want to make sure the job is done right but also make sure things are done correctly to receive a tax break is always a plus.

A great resource for information on weatherization and the technical standards behind weatherizing your home or office can be found here at the:

Weatherization Assistance Program – Technical Assistance Center

“The WAPTAC website contains a ‘virtual’ library of all rules, regulations, policies and procedures required by the Department of Energy’s weatherization program. The site is a central repository for presentation materials, photos and videos of work in progress, site demonstrations, news articles, and other documentation to support WAP operations. WAPTAC.org serves as the institutional memory of the Program”

This website gives you all the resources and information you need on weatherization in one central location. Want to know more about the Recovery Act? Not a problem, links are right off the main page. You will be able to find educational materials, local weatherization program information & even info on how to apply for assistance. WAPTAC is your one stop shop for weatherization resources. Take advantage today and save big with weatherization.

Gun foam is an essential tool for anyone involved in a construction project. It can be used to fill cavities and joints quickly and effectively. The foam is very easy to use and provides a professional finish to new builds and remodeling projects.  It is injected into tanks or cans and kept pressurized. When the foam is exposed to air it expands into a substance that is very sticky and is used to fill up gaps and will dry hard. It can be used as insulation and soundproofing and is the easiest way to fill cavities and holes. There are several different types of (including slow and fast rise) and these are designed for different projects.

These can come with their own applicator or you can use a special foam gun. These are very easy to use and will ensure a smooth, even application. To use the foam you need to thoroughly clean the surfaces you are going to be working with. Oils and dirt can reduce the adhesive property of the foam and cause it to ‘pull away’ slightly when it has dried. This will reduce the effectiveness of the insulation and sound proofing. It is also a good idea if you are working in the home to lay down some protective sheeting over floors and furnishings.

Once you have prepared the area are working on then you simply apply the foam into the cavity, gap or hole you want filled. This will expand at a ratio of around 8 to 1. Fill the hole slowly so that you can judge the expansion rate more effectively. This will prevent you from wasting foam or not applying enough. Most of the gun foams we offer meets ASTM E-84 flame spread requirements for caulks and sealants, cures within 24 hours and can be painted. Contact us today for all of your weatherization needs and restock your supply of gun foam.

Whatever the reason, almost every home owner has at one time or another purchased a tube of caulk. Over the last few years, much has changed in the world of caulk. Today, we can easily be overwhelmed by the number of compositions, colors, and containers. The primary goal of interior caulking is to seal against drafts along exterior walls and at intersections and prevent water intrusion at plumbing fixtures. A thin bead of caulk can also hide unsightly gaps and make joints easier to keep clean. Exterior caulk is good for shedding water and making your home more weather and draft resistant.

We offer different types of caulk but one of the most commonly used is latex caulk. Mainly because latex caulks are easy to work with. They are basically water-based caulks that are applied as a liquid. They have the least ability to stretch and thus they work best on interior applications where little movement is expected. Nowadays latex is often combined with another type of caulk, like silicon for extra durability, adhesion, and to enhance their performance

One secret to an attractive and long lasting caulk job is good preparation and meticulousness. Surfaces should be very clean before caulking. To help produce a attractive application, mask off the surrounding area with tape. Always have cleaning materials ready. Never depend on caulk alone to fill a gap over 1/4 an inch. For gaps bigger than this, first insert with some closed cell foam backer rod, it comes in 3/8”, 5/8” and 7/8” diameters, and then fill with caulk.  How well caulk fills the gap also depends on environmental exposure, such as shifts in temperature, ultraviolet light, weather and building movement. Always carefully read the product label for application purposes. Contact us today to learn more about our weatherization products and refill your stock of caulk.

“Keeping things simple” and “getting back to basics” are two ideals most people naturally gravitate to. And while some people are fans of new year’s resolutions, we thought we’d put together a list for 2011 on how to keep energy conserved with weatherization. While pretty straightforward, these easy tips are great way to save money and energy throughout the New Year.

• Confirm that you have a programmable thermostat and set it to the optimal settings. Turning back the thermostat by 10°–15° when you’re not at home can save you around 10% a year on heating and cooling bills.
• Check for air leaks and apply caulking and weather-stripping. While the improvements made in the last 12 months have likely been intact, be sure to double check to make sure you didn’t miss any leaks and see if any caulk or weather-stripping needs to be replaced.
• See if the attic is properly insulated. Attics are often one of the easiest places in a house to insulate. Also one of the easiest places to lose energy.
• Seal and insulate the foundation walls of unventilated crawl space and check for moisture and deterioration problems.
• Landscape with water conservation in mind and triple check the sprinkler system schedule to minimize water usage.
• Make sure to keep the hot water heater at 120°F and install a hot water heater insulating blanket. These two tips can save up to 15% in energy costs.
• Ensure any appliances you purchase are ENERGY STAR rated, which use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.
• Kill phantom energy loads (aka “vampire power”) by unplugging appliances when not in use.

Keeping these simple tips in mind will help reduce your energy costs this year and save you more money to spend on more luxurious items than replacing everything in your home. If you have any questions regarding weatherization or how you can save more energy this year feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help. Also, be sure to check out our great weatherization products page. For this new year we have some great products that will surely help you save money and help weatherize your home. Such as our infrared thermal imaging camera, our portable insulation blow machines, or compact florescent light bulbs, plus many more!

Some homes rely on evaporative coolers over air conditioners because it is cost effective and cools things down easier. People have been using the principle of evaporative cooling for ages. People used pots made from clay to provide cold water during summers when they don’t have refrigerators. These clay pots have tiny holes in them, through which water comes out. The heat in the pot evaporates the water that comes out from these tiny holes. The same principle is used in today’s evaporative coolers to lower the temperature in space they are designed to cool.

There are several advantages of using evaporative coolers. A major benefit of using these coolers is that they are inexpensive when compared to air-conditioning unit. Also, the cost of operating them is low when compared to other cooling options. It is a compact system that requires a good water pump and air circulating fan. Evaporative coolers are also and effective way of removing large quantity of heat from an industrial area.

One down fall of early model of evaporative coolers is they typically allowed free flow of air into conditioned space in the winter months when not being used. This is why we offer our start of the art evaporative cooler covers to weatherize the area around the cooler when not in use.  Our covers are made from durable white ABS. These rigid covers will last much longer than other covers and are easy to install and remove when not in use. Unlike most cheap covers ours is not a disposable cover. As with all of our products we have yet another quality product designed for years of use. We have four different sizes to choose from to meet your cooler cover needs and each one of our covers comes with an installation screw-clip system. Should you end up needing more screws or pins we also offer a package of 8 attachments for our evaporative cooler covers. Contact us today and keep your evaporative cooler protected for years to come.

Door sweeps are the small pieces of rubber or vinyl at the bottom of your door that effectively cover the gap where the door meets the bottom of the frame. This area is almost always built with a gap to allow the door to open and close smoothly. Contrary to its name, the door sweep doesn’t “sweep” anything. It acts as a buffer between the small gap and your home. Not only that but it saves you money on energy as well.  By acting as a layer of insulation and a seal between the air on the other side of the door and the inside controlled temperature air, it is effective at prevent heat transfer or heat loss through air movement. Of course, it is even more effective when combined with a screen or storm door, because then less air is allowed to even come to the door in the first place.

It may also prevent heat loss if it is made of a good insulation material. Heat loss happens when heat is transferred between two materials when there is a difference in surface temperature. If the cold outside air touches the door sweep, and the door sweep is warmer than the air, the heat from the door sweep will be lost. If the door sweep is cooled and the material becomes colder, heat will be lost because the house is warmer. Rubber is a fairly good insulator for this purpose, which is why it is the material most often used in door sweeps.

The “brush” type of sweep is good for reducing air flow, but will readily transfer heat if temperatures are different – which is why a lot of modern outer facing doors are longer sold with this type of sweep. If your door sweep gets worn and falls off you may ask yourself if you need to actually replace it. Do a simple test. If you feel air entering through the bottom of the door, then absolutely – you need a door sweep. If not, and you cannot see the light from outside within your home, you may not need one. Though it certainly will never hurt to add one! Contact us today to find out how you can help weatherize your home with door sweeps.

There are a lot of people these days that really need to save some money. While it may be hard to save a substantial amount every month, it may be easier to save a little here and there. This is especially true of cutting back on utilities while at the same time trying not to cut back on comfort. Water heater blankets are an inexpensive way that can help you save some money and not cut back on comfort.

If you have ever looked over an insulation R value guide for heater blankets, you will find in the reviews that they can vary tremendously in their “R” value rating. A minimum of rating of “5″ is recommended for a water heater blanket. They can of course go up from that point. Most water heaters have some type of insulation already installed. An extra wrap of insulation properly secured will not allow as much heat to escape and that allows the water heater to not have to work as hard. Saving the energy that would be put forth heating the water in the tank translates into less money you have to spend on utilities.

Installation is pretty straightforward. There are different sizes available and different styles for gas and electric models. All of our water heater blankets come with tape, buckles, and straps to attachment.  But keep in mind you may need extra. You may consider buying an extra roll at the same time you buy the water heater blanket and then keep the receipt if you don’t use the extra tape. It will save you a trip to the hardware store in the middle of your project. Contact us today for any other insulation needs or if you have any questions about how you can weatherize your home this winter.