> Move to the Innovation Center

EcoFAB has joined the McKinstry Innovation Center as a new green innovator.

The McKinstry Innovation Center opened in 2010 and is located in the Duwamish Industrial area of Seattle, WA. The Center brings new and emerging companies together under one roof to foster the advancement of clean, green energy technologies. The resulting synergy between McKinstry and Innovation Center companies fuels the creation and commercialization of new technologies and products that eliminate energy waste in the built environment.

McKinstry is on the forefront of creating some of the most innovative solutions to eliminate energy waste in the built environment. Now, by residing at the Innovation Center, our ecoFAB team will join in the race to advance new technologies to help our communities reach that goal.

EcoFAB will be collaborating with regional leaders in clean technologies and adopting the best tools and techniques in sustainable home energy solutions. We will use these partnerships and practices to scale up delivery of efficient services and products to our customers. For more information, visit the McKinstry website.

 

> Stay Cool This Summer

Fifteen ecoFAB tips for Staying Cool this summer without spending cash.

Here are some tips to keep your home cool without mechanical air-conditioning:

• Take cold showers. Reduce the heat you create in the bathroom by lowering the temperature of your showers.
• The same goes for laundry- wash your clothes in cold water to save heat, energy, and money. You can also run your dishwasher and clothes washer at night when it is cooler. Line-dry your clothes to avoid heat created by the dryer.
• Avoid cooking in the oven or on the stove (grill outside or use microwave). When you use the oven, you can easily raise the temperature of a room by 10 degrees. You can avoid this heat by eating no-cook foods like sandwiches and salads, which don't increase your body temperature or the room temperature.
• Close curtains and blinds on windows especially on windows that get direct sun. You can also plant shade trees or install awnings outdoors to reduce heat gain.
• If the temperature gets cool enough in the evenings, open your windows at night to let the cool air in. If you have windows opposite each other, open them to create a cross breeze, and move the air more quickly. Then, close the windows and blinds in the morning to trap the cool air during the day.
• Turn off and unplug unnecessary electronics too avoid heat that is given off by televisions, computers, and game consoles.
• If you have air conditioning, close doors to unused rooms & closets
• Make sure your fireplace damper is closed to avoid losing cool air.
• Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs or LEDs. Incandescent bulbs convert 90% of the energy they use into heat, and only 10% is converted to light.
• Use ceiling fans and box fans, make sure your ceiling fans rotate counterclockwise when viewed from below. Fans lower the wind chill by moving air, making the room feel cooler than it actually is.
• Wear loose fitting clothing and shorts to keep cool both indoors and out.
• Eat Spicy food! If you have good air circulation in your home, sweating can be a very effective way to cool down. Turn up the spice in your food to turn on the sweat without raising your body temperature, effectively cooling you down.
• Drink cold water to lower your body core temperature and prevent dehydration.
• Keep cool while you sleep by filling a hot-water bottle with icy water and placing it in your bed, or use a buckwheat or cool pillow.
• Heat rises, so if you have more than one floor in your home, stay on the lowest level for the coolest temperatures.

 

> Introducing Yirim Seck!

We are happy to introduce Yirim Seck, Home Energy Technician, to the ecoFAB team. A graduate from the first class of the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA)'s residential weatherization program, Yirim started with ecoFAB in May and assists with energy audits, home weatherization, tracking inventory and record keeping.

Yirim is active in the community as an organizer for the annual Black Community Festival at Umoja Peace Center. Passionate about sustainability, He has worked with Got Green on their projects, and even performed in their hip-hop video.

 

> What we can do for you?

EcoFAB takes the guesswork and the burden of home energy refits off your shoulders. Our services don't end with an audit report.

Our services include:

• Home Energy Audits for Efficiency and Comfort
• Retrofit and Efficiency Upgrades
• Ventilation Systems
• Insulation of Walls, Ceilngs, and Attics
• Air Sealing, Crawlspace Sealing, Duct Sealing or Replacement
• Programmable Thermostats
• Energy Efficient Lighting and Appliances (Including Heat Pumps)
• Renewable Energy Systems
• Performance Verifications
• Green Remodeling Projects with Energy Savings

Call us to schedule your home performance appointment!
206.450.2026 | www.ecofab.net

 

EcoFAB is a social venture dedicated to delivering efficient and sustainable upgrades for homes. We take the guesswork out of home efficiency by providing you a customized home analysis and action plan for retrofit measures that will pay back and improve your comfort.

 

ecoFAB  1011 Western Avenue, Suite 1006, Seattle, WA 98104