Key Services

 

While each home is unique and requires its own specific solutions, we have found that most homes in our regions require or would benefit from one or more of our key services outlined below.  GCC will work closely with your Auditor helping ensure the recommendations you choose are implemented by our Trade Partners to make your home more energy efficient, healthy & safe, comfortable, durable and environmentally responsible.

 

 

 

Air Sealing a home is one of the most cost-effective ways to make a home more comfortable and energy-efficient.  Air leakage through windows, doors, walls, rim bands, floors and ceilings has been shown to increase heating and cooling costs 35-40%. Unsealed chases and cavities by way of attics and crawl spaces bring unconditioned and unfiltered air into living areas.  GCC Air Sealing Trade Partners use environmentally friendly caulks, foam, insulation board, etc. along with good building science to reduce air infiltration.
Air Sealing Fact Sheet

Advanced Air Sealing

 

Do you have an uncomfortable bonus or other room with knee walls?  Surprisingly, the problem may not be with your heating and cooling system.  Rather, it may largely be due to your knee walls not being backed on the attic side with durable and air sealed material to encapsulate your probable falling or missing insulation.  Advanced Air Sealing is project specific and usually includes sealing these and other large areas.

 

 

 

Most likely, your HVAC systems are not performing at their optimal level.  On average, systems perform at 60% of their capacity.  If your Auditor determines your system(s) is performing poorly or is not properly balanced and typical Duct Renovation may not correct the problem, your Auditor may recommend more advanced diagnostics before moving forward with retrofitting.  A highly trained HVAC Diagnostics Partner will perform comprehensive diagnostics to determine specific causes of the problems and recommend proper solutions.
Duct Performance Fact Sheet

 

 

 

Leaky ducts are a leading cause of poor indoor air quality as pollutants are drawn into the system, re-circulated and distributed throughout the house through the heating and cooling systems. Leaky ducts also contribute significantly to a home’s energy loss.  Our Duct Renovation Trade Partners use Duct Blaster® equipment to pinpoint leakages in the HVAC ductwork and measure sealing success.  You will be provided with before and after leakage measurements to guarantee success.  Typical duct renovation also includes straightening or replacing ducts, sealing air handlers with proper materials, hanging ducts where necessary, replacing registers to improve proper air throw and installing basic fresh air systems.
Duct Sealing Fact Sheet

Fresh Air Ventilation Fact Sheet

 

Insulation

Insulation is only effective if it is a continuous thermal barrier, with no air gaps or voids, and is in continuous contact with the air barrier or building envelope. Wall insulation, to have the maximum effect, must be encapsulated on all six sides by air barrier backing, such as a stud cavity.

Batt insulation is very often improperly installed, stuffed into stud cavities, with gaps and voids between the batt and the drywall. When insulation is compressed, it loses R value. Batts are often stuffed in front of or behind piping and wiring in stud cavities, compressing the insulation and leaving an air gap.

 

Our Insulation Trade Partners understand the building science behind proper installation and will work closely with your Auditor to determine the best products and insulation locations.
Insulation Tech Tips

 

 

Closed Crawl Space (Charlotte Region)

 

A majority of the air you breathe in your home rises from your crawl space.  The average temperature of a typical vented crawl space in the Southeast region of the U.S. is perfect for breeding moisture and mold which can create a musty smell and release toxins that can affect your family's health.  Closing your crawl space keeps mold away with a high quality moisture barrier and converts it into a semi-conditioned dry space.

Closed crawl spaces have been proven to save homeowners money on their energy bill.  By encapsulating your crawl space and converting the area into a "controlled" air space, you will lessen the impact it has on the indoor temperature of your home which will lower your energy costs and help create a more comfortable living area.

Our well-trained Closed Crawl Space Trade Partners encapsulate, insulate, drain and air seal your foundations ensuring energy efficient and healthy crawl spaces. 

 

 

You may have properly insulated your home's attic floor, but did you think about the attic drop down stairs or attic hatch?  Do you have an open or non insulated whole house fan?  These are basically big holes in the air barrier and thermal boundary and could potentially cause a major problem if not properly sealed and left un-insulated.  This big hole could be responsible for heat loss in the winter and heat gain in the summer which ultimately results in high utility bills, an uncomfortable home and an unhappy homeowner.

Our Weatherization Trade Partners complete the weatherization process by sealing these opening to the attic of your home.  They insulate the attic access with a specially designed cover called the Attic Access Cover.  This Cover is a highly effective insulator installed from inside the attic and made to drop down and fit tightly over the opening of a home's attic access.  The tent is made of rigid insulation board, with a high R-value rating, and is very light-weight and moveable for easy attic entry.  It is a practical and economical solution to wasted energy creeping through and around openings and stairs and is a requirement to meet Energy Star standards.

 

* Please note, EBS does not recommend weather-stripping a drop-down stair panel because it will eventually warp the door and will cause even more leakage. We also do not recommend putting insulation between the steps of the ladder since it decreases the room for your feet and may cause you to fall.
Attic Access Fact Sheet

Diagram of how to properly seal around an attic hatch. 

 

 

 

Solar heating harnesses the power of the sun to provide solar thermal energy for domestic hot water, solar space heating, and solar pool heaters. A solar heating system saves energy, reduces utility costs, and produces clean energy.  With excellent federal tax credits and the best state tax credits in the nation, it may be time for you to finally go solar!
Solar Hot Water Heating Fact Sheet