Many contractors have a tough time selling customers on a full energy assessment / energy audit of their home in a slow economy as people try to save dollars. A great way to jumpstart that sell is first have your customers, the homeowner, use the Energy Star Home Energy Yardstick. This tool allows homeowners to input their energy bill$ and compare them to similar homes to see how they measure up. This can be a great tool you can use to help homeowners realize they may need to make some modifications to their homes and when they do you’ll be there to help.

This is a great gateway into providing your services and advising them on what types of insulation and weatherization products are best suited for their home. It can also lead into providing a full home energy audit of the house to fully understand what modifications they will need that best fit their lifestyle and budget. You can find the Home Energy Yardstick here.

Weatherization is a simple concept but hard to perfect. The little things you do for your customers will go a long way in the end. The minor details are what can distinguish you as a Hero or Zero to a customer. Attention to detail can propel a customer’s savings from small to large. One product that you can pull out of your hat to impress them are Outlet Gaskets. These little foam gaskets will reduce air infiltration from occurring around electric outlets. They may be small but they can make a big difference in fighting air infiltration.

We also recommend installing switch gaskets behind light switches for an economical way to reduce air infiltration. Putting these gaskets in place behind every electric outlet and light switch can add up to big savings on your customer’s energy bill. Remember, the little things and attention to detail can really help save your customer’s money and help your business reputation.

Door bottoms can be your biggest asset in fighting weatherization when it comes to doors.   Door bottoms can help your customers create a positive seal on the threshold when a door is closed.  This will help eliminate unwanted air infiltration into and out of the home or office.   Door bottoms can also be accompanied by weather-stripping if heat transfer is still occurring after mounting the door bottom.

A big advantage of installing door bottoms is they will help stop water from destroying your customer’s wood door.  Without any protection on the bottom of wooden doors water has the capability of being absorbed from the bottom up.  The result is the door rotting from the inside out without any major warning signs until it is too late and then the door will need to be replaced.   To prevent your customer’s door rotting in the future, apply a door bottom to help stop and redirect unwanted water away from the bottom of the wooden door.     The combination of a door bottom to prevent rotting and weather-stripping to add to the sealing is a win-win for your customers.

Many business owners and commercial property owners are looking for ways to increase their bottom line while decreasing expenses. Non-fixed costs are way they can do this, and with the increase in heating expenses, along with the tax credits to those who improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, many business owners and commercial building owners are investigating their utility bills and wondering how to save on energy costs. As a contractor you can bring your knowledge and cost savings to the table when discussing renovations or improvements.

As you know, investing in building renovations and home improvements can actually yield cost saving results. One of the many ways you as a contractor can do this for your customers is to improve the existing insulation with a reflective radiant barrier from Service Partners.

Although radiant barrier technology is by no means new, radiant barriers are being used for the purpose of building insulation and are considered one of the newer methods for shielding the interior of a commercial building from both the heat of summer and the cold, frigid temperatures of winter.

As media attention and commercial business interests have increased in making more energy efficient and ecologically green investments, radiant barriers are quickly becoming one of the most economical ways to augment a buildings’ existing insulation. Unlike traditional fiberglass batting or loose fill insulation, which acts to slow the progression of heat transfer, you can set yourself apart from the everyday contractor by showing your potential clients these radiant barriers and their cost savings. These barriers will actually reflect the majority of any heat transfer taking place allowing the building interior to remain at a more comfortable temperature.

With less need for air & heat conditioning cycles it is clear to see how this will not only save your customers money in operating costs, but also minimize the wear and tear of the HVAC system. Be sure to contact us to learn more about our weatherization products.

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!

The applications of thermal imaging are numerous, from medical to military to maintenance. Many electrical services companies are investing more into the technology. The plethora of industries that utilize thermal technology all share a common goal when it comes to the technology, and that is advancement. With so many industries pouring money into research of thermal tech, it’s no wonder it could very well be the best option your business has.

Infrared cameras are a very profitable tool and thermal imaging is a growing trend all over the world. Thermal imaging cameras work on the concept of Thermography where heat radiation differences are detected and shown as colors on an image. Infrared cameras have 3 basic types which are short, mid and long wavelengths. These amazing camera’s find their use in detection of poor ventilation, faulty insulation, leaking roofs and mold growths.

The advantage of using these cameras is that you can save time, effort and money by quickly tracing damages before they spread and cause costly structural damages.

With top of the line cameras, home inspectors can check for poor insulation, warped windows or air leaks as all of them result in cooling or heating losses. Plumbing or electrical systems can also be checked for presence of termites. Leaks in roofs and walls can also be easily detected using this type of camera. But not only can they help with poor insulation problems but also maintenance of electrical circuits. Electrical circuits which are overloaded often result in overheating of fuses or wires. Infrared cameras can help to detect hot spots well in advance. Thus we can see that infrared technology has advanced quickly and the cameras have become more cost effective and readily accessible for technicians in many different professions.

Our state-of-the-art thermal imaging camera is the most complete thermal imaging camera used by weatherization and home inspection professionals. Some of its features are a built in LED illumination lamp for low light conditions, fusion picture in picture that can display thermal image super imposed over digital image, laser for pinpoint of hot-spots, Thermal sensitivity of + – .01 degree C, insulation alarm easily detects areas that don’t fulfill requirements, dew point alarm, and a 3.5 inch LCD screen. Making this product truly one of the best tools on the market for any business. Contact us today to get your thermal imaging camera and be sure to check out the other weatherization products we have to offer to help save you time and money.

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.