BCI Blog
Energy Audits, HERS Ratings & Heat Pump Guides
Blower door tests, HERS ratings, the Massachusetts Stretch Code, heat pumps and ventilation: how to measure and improve a home’s performance.
You cannot fix what you do not measure. These guides explain the tests and ratings used in Massachusetts, what the numbers mean and how insulation, air sealing and heat pumps work together.
16 articles · page 1 of 2
What Is a Home Energy Audit? Tests, Tools and What You Get
What a home energy audit includes in Massachusetts: blower door test, infrared scan, combustion safety, insulation check and a plan of upgrades.
Blower Door Test: How It Works and What the Numbers Mean
How a blower door test works, what CFM50 and ACH50 mean, the Massachusetts code limit for new homes and how the test finds air leaks.
HERS Rating Explained: What Your HERS Index Score Means
What a HERS rating is, how the HERS Index scale works, what a good score is, how ratings are done and why Massachusetts new homes need one.
The Massachusetts Stretch Code and Specialized Code, Explained
What the Massachusetts Stretch Energy Code and Specialized Opt-in Code require for new homes and renovations, HERS ratings, blower door tests and how to comply.
Air Changes per Hour (ACH50): What It Means for Your Home
What ACH50 means, how it is calculated from a blower door test, the Massachusetts code limit and typical results for old and new homes.
Do Heat Pumps Work in Massachusetts Winters? Cold-Climate Heat Pumps Explained
How cold-climate heat pumps perform in Massachusetts winters, capacity at low temperatures, backup heat and why insulation comes first.
Heat Pump vs. Oil Heat: Should You Switch in Massachusetts?
Comparing heat pumps and oil heat in Massachusetts: operating costs, comfort, cooling, rebates, backup options and why insulation should come first.
Mini Split Sizing: How to Choose the Right Size Heat Pump
How to size a mini split or heat pump for a Massachusetts home: heat-loss calculations, why rules of thumb fail, oversizing risks and the role of insulation.
Why You Should Insulate Before Installing a Heat Pump
Why air sealing and insulating before a heat pump lowers the system size, the installation cost and your electric bills in Massachusetts.
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