November 20, 2007

In the Name of Science

Sustainable Spaces Healthy Home Inspection

Better living through chemistry (the questionable kind): whipits, vodka shots, Ambien.

Better living through science (the actual kind): ecofriendly home consultants Sustainable Spaces.

Bring them your strange odors, extreme temperature shifts, and scary energy bills, and they’ll use building science to lead your home down the greener path.

First they perform a three-hour on-site inspection, checking major systems like ventilation, water, and insulation. Then they write up a report with recommendations for changes that will have the biggest impact. Like fixing leaky air ducts or turning off the extra fridge.

Testing fees average $700, based on the size of your pad, but they apply half the cost to any construction work you decide to do.

The team emphasizes efficiency over unrealistic conservation. Translation: You don’t have to live in a yurt to lead a more sustainable life.

But if you’re ready to go zero-energy, they’ve got that down to a science, too.

Sustainable Spaces (415-294-5380 or sustainablespaces.com).