Brower Power Hour Radio Show Archive
About the Show
Brower Home Power Hour: Formerly the CHERP Energy Wise Forum, Brower Mechanical has now recrafted the program to further promote the process of home energy optimization thru home energy audits, insulation, windows, solar and more. Continuing the relationship with the non-profit Community Home Energy Retrofit Project (CHERP)monthly seminars are designed to provide access to virtually free home energy assessments ($300+ value!)that can then lead to maximizing government and utility rebates and incentives to both reduce expense and increase home values. An incredibly informative show to help anyone considering solar or home energy upgrades make the best investment decision utilizing the small solar process by reducing before producing.
Presented in Part by: Ygrene Home Improvement Financing
Blog
Radio Show Archive
Join your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small as todays conversation compares the way things have been in home utility for the past 40 years to where we’re headed. Has the technology kept up to the same degree that the automotive industry has? One look around at panels on roofs tells that story. A house with old solar looks pretty darn much the same as a new house with solar. But a Tesla by comparison to a car even 5 years old, well, that’s a different story and that’s the story today’s show tells.
The good news is looks aren’t everything. Smart Meters can tell a great story for your energy consumption and you hardly know they’re there. Your behavior in the home dictates the energy usage and each home is uniquely different. Again, while not visible, software is now tracking everything that consumes energy and has the ability to help homeowners adjust the way things are operated. Special software is now available to PG&E customers for free from Brower Mechanical. It’s a great first step to developing your home energy plan. Knowledge is everything and the more you know how energy is impacting your expense, the more likely you’ll be able to do something about it and bring your home into the 21st century. If you’re familiar with the show, you know about the Clip Board Audit. It’s a Brower original that gives you an overall analysis of your home to help you begin the process of identifying a home energy plan or update. If nothing else, you’ll learn how you’re consuming energy and what you can do to minimize consumption to save money. That’s definitely a step toward the future!
There are many ways to minimize your utility costs and if you’re uncertain about how all this energy detail works, you’ll learn by reaching out to those who know. Give Brower Mechanical a call today. 916-624-0808. On line www.gosmallsolar.com.
Love your home, but hate your utility expense? Your hosts, Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small tackle the elements you need to explore to reduce that energy expense you so loathe. Solar alone, or even first is not the answer. So how do you do it right? “Reduce before you produce”. You’re hearing it a lot now. What’s that really mean? A good start is to talk to an educated professional. Not a salesperson. Somebody like you’ll find at the Brower Energy Exploratorium in Rocklin. This showroom has it all and demonstrations of the products at work as well.
But, if you can’t get to the showroom, start with a free clipboard audit ... why not? Wouldn’t you prefer the same with your home as you would your car? Of course you would! Start the process with an analysis and diagnosis. Then you’re on your way to a better solution.
Now that you have some information, understanding the diagnosis before you get a prescription is next. You do have the opportunity to get it right before you act. An efficient use of solar will yield about 150 to 170 SF of home per solar panel. Hear the real live case studies Duane shares on the savings vs the expense of two homes in similar neighborhoods. It’s astounding.
Reducing before producing does more than just save you money, it can actually earn you money. Use the clipboard audit as your guide. Upgrades can be done in steps. One at a time with the utilities supporting the process with rebates. Build confidence in your ability to afford the utility bills. Small A/C, small energy consumption means small solar options as well.
For more on how you can save by investing properly, give Brower Mechanical a call today. 916-624-0808. On line at www.gosmallsolar.com.
Drop the fan, turn on the A/C and relax while you listen in comfort to your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small share best practices on staying cool. Oh, I’ll bet you thought that headline meant “cool” like James Dean or “The Fonz”. We’re a home energy show, c’mon. This is about temperature, expense and comfort, of course.
You’ve heard it before. It all starts with a plan to get the house right by consuming less energy after taking the proper steps to get there. Solar is not an end all solution so never start there.
Start with your utility website to see how big those rebates can be. How much you may be able to qualify for and what they suggest you do first. It’s the reason they give the big rebates anyway! (hint: they don’t recommend solar first...)
You’ll learn why the utilities are so anxious to give money away on rebates as it really doesn’t make sense when you think about it at first. It will after you hear Duane explain it.
Hear how our case study home took advantage of nearly every rebate offered and with a solid plan, may well be looking at zero energy expense in the future. None. Not even for gas. It’s quite a story.
Our studio guest was a frustrated homeowner that was so pleased with the Brower experience that she called them in when her business needed rooftop commercial A/C replacements as well. Another great story told in first person! And lastly, if you’re being told you need a recharge for you’re A/C annually, be sure to get a second opinion. You’re likely being taken advantage of. Duane and Bill explain the simplicity of this tactic and the resolution for you in brief detail. Don’t let it happen again. For help in getting your home energy situation where it needs to be, give Brower Mechanical a call at 916-624-0808 or visit them on-line at www.gosmallsolar.com. And make more friends now that you’re the “coolest” on the block!
The kickoff to summer is now officially here. Now what? Are you ready? If there’s a hint of doubt, then pay attention today as your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small discuss solar options and the value in knowledge and planning. It’s certainly not too late to act on your intent. The beginning to the end of the process is to start with a plan that gives you an assessment. From the simple and complimentary clip board audit to the full-blown Home Energy Assessment, you’ll learn where the issues are for your home and where you’re leaking valuable cool air. Stop that and save money.
From there, you can make step-by-step decisions on how you want to proceed with making your home the efficient and comfortable environment of choice.
Reducing energy consumption before producing with solar is certainly a consideration. That, in conjunction with the many options you have for rebates give you the control on how best to take your next steps and Duane and Bill walk you through the process, steps and rebates available.
Thinking solar is the way to go? Know this simple fact as you gather more information. The #1 most efficient thing you can do is get the house right ...first. Then consider your solar options to save on how much solar you really need. SMUD and P,G&E have valuable details on their websites but to get all the information, including the 9 steps to making your home more energy efficient, give Brower Mechanical a call at 916-624-0808 or visit them on-line at www.gosmallsolar.com.
There’s a real treat in this week’s show from a gentleman many of you will know from his voice on value. Your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small have a discussion with a well known guest today. Bob Hilton, the former voice of many game shows including “The Price is Right” and “Truth or Consequence”, lives in the Brower service area and was able to experience firsthand, what Brower is really all about. You’ll want to hear why he was willing to come on the show. And that’s just the beginning of things...
California has mandated solar or more efficiency on new homes by 2020. But what about older homes? That’s where Brower Mechanical comes in. You may find that “Reducing before Producing” gets you to the goal you’re looking for when you do it correctly. An average solar panel is roughly $1000. If you’re thinking solar, you’ll certainly want to be sure you’re using the least number of panels possible. Getting the house right first will save you that portion of the investment and in many cases, yield a less expensive overall result. Most people really have no idea the steps the energy companies are taking to help you reduce before you produce. Duane discusses the value, the rebates and the reasons to seriously consider the options you have at your fingertips. As always, you can reach out to Brower Mechanical at 916-624-0808, on line at www.gosmallsolar.com.
Happy Mothers Day! And yes, your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small were birthed by incredibly wonderful women. While they weren’t as sophisticated about reducing energy consumption they did produce some pretty talented offspring. How on earth do you raise two boys to get into home energy efficiency? Start with nature and let it go from there. That’s why the more you can do to Reduce before you Produce, you’ll be that much better off as nature does some of the work for you. In today’s show, whole house fans take a front seat. They rely on the natural ambient temperature and simply move it from the cooler outside to the warmer inside and voila, no A/C and a cooler home!
Then, there’s the discussion with a caller that took place about her interest in how to heat and cool a ductless room. Now that’s a real conundrum. Or is it? Hear how the boys from Brower knew exactly what to do and how to make it the most efficient solution possible.
The “fix” may surprise you.
And do be aware, your utility pricing is going up. SMUD and PG&E will both have higher pricing this year during the heat of the summer. It’s going to be more important than ever to have your house in it’s best shape to keep the energy bills just the same as they were last year.
With smaller solar doing more work, it’s all the rage now to be energy wise and efficient and downsizing your home’s energy footprint can begin as simply as with the Clip Board Audit from Brower Mechanical. It’s free and is the first step to identifying what steps to take to make your home the most efficient it can be, with or without solar. Then, and only then, should you begin the discussion about the proper steps to take to become the energy miser. The Clip Board Audit is a must if you’re serious about small solar and energy efficiency.
And lastly, learn about the myriad of opportunities to have your expense reduced with the current rebates from SMUD and PG&E. You’ll be surprised at how willing they are to help you get your home to the maximum efficiency it can...before you consider solar. Then you can make that decision knowing you’ll be using the least number of panels as a result of the reduced energy consumption. At $1000 per panel average, I’m thinking Mom would be proud of the money you save. Call Brower Mechanical today to get your 9 energy saving tips and for your free Clip Board Audit. You’ll be glad you did. 916-624-0808 or on line at www.gosmallsolar.com
Well, if that isn't a leading question full of interpretation! And it's not because of Cinco de Mayo hangover either.... Listen as your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small discuss a customer's question about how much air can a bathroom exhaust fan pull from the living quarters. You might be surprised at the answer. And prior to that discussion, brace yourself for this summer cooling season. PG&E price hikes are in effect and this will be the first summer with the new tiered pricing. The more you use the more you're going to pay. Likely a good idea to look at energy saving options sooner than later.
How about this? BOGO. Buy one, get others. OK, that's a stretch to the familiar term but that's what you get with a Brower Home energy assessment. You get not one but up to 5 others! Your home energy upgrade will get you a healthier environment, more comfortable, more efficient, less dust and less solar panels than if you had done nothing. Start with a Clip Board Audit and experience the value it represents. Then, go from there as you develop your home energy plan for the most efficient process to accomplish the goals you set.
As you know, each and every Brower Home Power Hour is loaded with information that you can use immediately to save you money on your home energy costs and this show is no exception. If you were thinking about getting your ducts cleaned, it's a must listen as you may be wasting your money. One of the best things you can do to get your house right is know what it is you want to do. And one of the best ways to do that is to visit the Brower Mechanical Exploratorium in Rocklin. You'll get to see everything as it relates to your home energy. Whole house fans, energy efficient pool pumps, attic sealing and more! Don't wait to act, so something now. Call Brower Mechanical today at 916-624-0808 or visit www.gosmallsolar.com.
Your hosts, Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small really get into the attic again. It's such an important part of the home when it comes to energy efficiency and the easiest place to overlook, so... you can count on them hangin' out there on a regular basis. Who else wants to go up there anyway? Well, now you can actually get a video on what your attic should look like before and after to maximize the efficiency in your energy plan. It's the number one step to reducing before your producing with solar and if you don't go solar, it's still the leading way to cut your energy costs. The exclusive Brower Exploratorium would be another great stop along you energy reduction journey as you'll get to see the systems talked about on the show in real life. And yes, that includes two attics. A leaky, inefficient one and a state of the art energy saving one. That alone makes it worth the trip!
The conversation then shifts to ranking of solar companies in the market and Brower is 15th, happily! Considering they do home energy consultation and installation and not just solar, that's a pretty amazing ran. The answer; they're about saving you energy and not running your energy systems. Solar may not be right for you! Let the Brower team come in and help you identify the best way to reduce that monthly energy expense. They've tested thousands of home, before and after and they have a plethora of information and data that exemplifies the success of the process. And instead of offering just that one lump solution to your issues, Brower Mechanical actually goes beyond the competition and for roughly the same monthly expense for a new HVAC system, you would get that AND a tankless water heater ANd a whole house fan AND attic insulation. Now that's a deal you'll want to learn more about for sure. Give them a call at 916-628-0404 or on line at www.gosmallsolar.com.
What? You think your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small don't know Shakespeare? Well, whether they do or not the one thing they do know is home energy, comfort and health and that's something you can count on. Since "brevity is the soul of wit" let's get to this week's show.
Your hosts jump right into those mailers you so frequently get addressing how with just a low weekly payment, you can have all your homes issues taken care by just installing that new HVAC unit for about $35 per week. "All that glitters is not gold" and that solution is not the cure. The HVAC company behind that mailer is waiting with "bated breath" to get you to sign. Check out the interest rates, the term and the process. Duane and Bill will walk you through the details of these less than ideal remedies that steer you down the wrong path. They'll also give you solutions for less money that get you more in terms of comfort, efficiency, health and savings! Don't go running on a "wild goose chase" just to find what appears to be the fastest fix. Stop letting that utility bill "eat you out of house and home". We all know what's just around the corner. Hot. And a need for cool. Get your 9 ways to reduce your electricity bill by up to 30% when you visit www.gosmallsolar.com and request it. "To thine own self be true" means get going. Do something today. Don't fear that thermostat. Set it and forget it. Let that A/C run and get out and have some fun. When you use Brower Mechanical to assess your home with a free Clip Board Audit, you'll know exactly what to expect and what steps to take next for the best solution to reducing your energy consumption. Call 916-624-0808. And as Shakespeare would have said: "All's well that ends well."
Listen in as your hosts Duane Knickerbocker and Bill Small discuss the differences of Whole House Fans of old and today. No more jet engine, flap rattling air movement droning with these new fans! As a matter of fact, you can even request a video of the fans in operation or see one for yourself at the Brower Exploratorium. It's free, it's fun and you'll learn a ton!
You'll also hear the case study of excess solar on a smaller home and the unintended (and expensive) consequences. 45 panels on 2200SF is not a fix, it's an expensive mask to a bigger problem. That's what can happen when a solar only solution gets applied to a bigger energy upgrade need. It's not pretty! In today's final segment, you'll also hear about the opportunities to heat your water with solar as well. Technology is moving quickly and this is a show that gives you some insight to what's possible today, not tomorrow. Learn how to do what's best for your energy plan, or even how to create a home energy plan by giving the folk at Brower Mechanical a call today. A short Clip Board Audit will get you started on your way. 916-624-0808 or visit on line to request your free video of Whole House Fans and more at www.gosmallsolar.com.
