Recently, a homeowner reached out to E3 with a concern about moisture in his crawlspace. He and his young family have been living in the house for about four months and there is (already) significant moisture in the crawlspace.

After contacting his builder, the builder arranged for an inspector to take a look at the situation. 

The inspector made the comment that moisture in a crawlspace is like the sun setting in the west. It's "normal" and according to his statement, it's just a fact of life.

Far too often, we come across clients in Nashville, TN who think they have invested in a high efficiency variable speed HVAC system. We regret informing them that instead, they have a basic, standard efficiency single stage unit. Folks aren't thrilled to hear the news because in their mind, they spent extra on something that was supposed to be more energy efficient.

Why does the mix-up occur? 

Much of the confusion has to do with terminology and understand the components of the HVAC system.

If you are here, you must have browsed our website long enough to find information on our Diagnostic Assessment Services. If you haven't found that link on our home page yet, CLICK HERE to learn more. Or, perhaps you inquired via phone and spoke to one of our building scientists. Great! 

We at E3 INNOVATE love our cars... if you didn't know already. And, although we try not to play favorites, our electric vehicles hold a special place in our heart. That's because they represent the early adoption of the shift toward electrified (and hopefully someday) solar-powered transportation.

However, as much as we advocate for electric cars and car-charging stations, we know that electric cars alone won't save the planet. We MUST address the energy consumption of our homes, too. 

Starting the design of a new custom home can be exciting and daunting at the same time. Planning the layout, envisioning the view from the kitchen, and deciding where to put the solar panels are probably everyone’s favorite parts about building a custom high performance home.

Medicine and healthcare are often used to make analogies to home performance at E3 INNOVATE because of the similarities between achieving optimal health and an energy efficient healthy home. We can't rely on Band-Aids and blister packs to fix our health; nor can we rely on shiny pieces of equipment to fix our homes. 

Americans have grown dependent on medicine to relieve their nagging symptoms when many health professionals keep driving home the valid point that diet and lifestyle changes need to be the first step in regaining health.

In last month's blog, we discussed ventilation and the three methods for bringing fresh air into the home. You can read that blog HERE. At the end of the article, a comment was made about the recent ventilation code updates in Nashville-Davidson County, which stated: new homes are now required for the first time to be equipped with either a supply-only or a balanced mechanical ventilation system.

That statement needs to be corrected and clarified.

January is Radon Awareness Month. Although radon is probably the most popular indoor air contaminant, there are others we should be aware of. Particulates from mold, dust, dander, and pollen as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and combustion gasses are often found inside our homes. Exposure to indoor air contaminants is inevitable, but proper ventilation can help reduce our exposure and help homeowners in Nashville, TN create healthier homes. 

Changes to the Residential Energy Code in Davidson County Tennessee

Davidson County recently adopted the 2018 residential building codes, without amendments. What does this mean for new construction projects in and around Nashville? Below is a summary of the major changes and important components that will require special attention.

What changed regarding building envelope and mechanical systems? 

Better Building Codes Means Healthier Homes for Nashvillians!

We are excited to share breaking news! Just a few weeks ago, a very important bill made its way through Metro Council. Mayor Cooper signed an ordinance that updates the county's residential building code from 2012 standards to 2018 standards, a big move for sustainability, energy efficiency, and healthier homes!