Live Green

Live Green
Home Energy Audits & Weatherization
www.livegreenhome.com

10% Member Discount

4318 Curtis Road
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
T: 301-300.0639
F: 301-652-5272

Michael Whelan, Energy Auditor/Architect
Michael@livegreenhome.com

SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Live Green is a Home Performance Services company. We promote home energy efficiency by providing the following services:

Home Performance Analysis – performing a comprehensive whole-house review that includes a Home Energy Audit & Physical Evaluation (to identify energy savings opportunities, test combustion safety and uncover relevant operational and maintenance issues), delivering our Home Performance Report (including actionable recommendations), and (at a customer’s request) planning for implementation
Implementation of Improvements – making the recommended Energy Efficiency Improvements outlined in our Report, including installing insulation and air sealing, and re-testing for combustion safety and air infiltration post-implementation
Energy Consulting - providing advisory services to homeowners and/or builders during the planning and/or implementation phase of a renovation or new construction project that will improve the energy efficiency of the home
Design & Construction – providing design, documentation and oversight services during the planning and/or implementation phases of a renovation or construction project that will improve the functionality of the home and/or implement the desired design

WHO WE ARE

Live Green LLC is a family-owned business based in Montgomery County, MD and serving the Washington DC Metro Area. We provide personal attention to each client. We are focused on serving each client’s best interests throughout the process, providing “concierge” service without the concierge price.

Live Green is –

Maryland Energy and Sustainability Cooperative’s Preferred Provider for Home Energy Audits and Weatherization
A Participating Contractor with the Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program
A Participating Contractor with the Assisted Maryland Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program
A Participating Contractor with BGE’s Smart Energy Savers Program
A Founding Member of Efficiency First

Live Green’s Principals have extensive backgrounds in design, green development and energy efficiency issues.

Michael Whelan is –

A Building Performance Institute-certified Building Performance Analyst
A licensed Maryland Home Improvement Contractor
A Registered Architect with 23+ years of design and construction experience

Suzanne Parmet is -

An Attorney (licensed in MD and DC) with degrees in Architecture and Real Estate Development
A Real Estate Development Consultant specializing in residential projects and green development practices

PRESS & REFERENCES

Live Green & Michael Whelan are the subject of an article published in the Washington Post (May 7, 2009) and the Gazette (May 6, 2009). The article (reported by Andrew Ufifusa) focuses on Michael’s home energy efficiency services and the assistance he provides to the Town of Chevy Chase on its climate protection efforts.

Live Green was featured in a Washington Post Magazine article (Feb 15, 2009, Liza Mundy). In the follow-up online chat, the author was asked whether it was useful to have the home energy audit, to which she responded: "Extremely useful. I highly recommend it."

The implementation of a Live Green project was filmed (early Feb 2009) for an upcoming show on green building practices.

An entire installment of the TV program “Focus with Haig Ellian” (Nov 2008) featured Michael Whelan describing the Home Performance Analysis process and its benefits to homeowners.

We are pleased that many Live Green clients refer us to their friends and neighbors, and are proud to provide references upon request.

Home Performance Analysis Services

APPROACH

Live Green takes a “Whole House” approach to Home Energy Auditing. We evaluate each home comprehensively - considering its systems, components, design and physical condition together – to assess how to improve each home's energy efficiency, comfort and longevity in light of the homeowner’s primary needs and concerns, and the home's physical condition. (Understand more about Home Dynamics & Optimizing Home Energy Performance)

Live Green provides each client with objective recommendations, based on the specific needs of each home and the client's best interests

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Live Green's Home Performance Analysis includes ALL of the following services.:

A. Evaluation of Energy & Physical Issues, which includes:

Meeting with the homeowner to identify concerns regarding comfort, energy use and/or related issues
Combustion testing to determine the safety and efficiency of combustion equipment and appliances, by looking at carbon monoxide levels, backdrafting of vented appliances, and safety hazards
Blower Door testing to determine air infiltration
Infrared thermography, which uses an infrared camera to analyze adequacy of insulation and duct inspection
Inspecting physical condition, including a review of insulation, HVAC and appliances, structural integrity, mold & moisture issues, exterior drainage, and general condition
Reviewing historical energy bills

B. Delivery of our Home Performance Report, a customized comprehensive report, which includes:

Summary of observations, test data & analysis
Detailed, budget conscious energy saving recommendations
Relevant operational & maintenance recommendations
Estimated savings from undertaking the recommendations

C. Development of an Implementation Plan – at a customer’s request, we will provide:

A detailed Work Proposal, which includes all fees and costs of installation labor and materials, Live Green’s “concierge” services, and post-implementation testing. The Proposal can account for a phasing of implementation, if appropriate for the customer and the job.
Financial Analysis, which analyzes the cost of the Proposal in light of:
- Cost effectiveness (e.g. how much is saved each month on energy bills relative to the cost of making the improvements),
- Return on investment (e.g. the ration of energy savings to the cost of making the improvements), and
- Payback period (e.g. number of years to recover the cost of making the improvements through energy savings.

FEE FOR ANALYSIS SERVICES

Live Green’s flat fee for the Home Performance Analysis - including all of the services listed above - is $425.*

Additional charges apply for certain properties, including houses that are larger than 3,500 sq. ft., have more than 2 heating and/or hot water combustion appliances, more than2 heating and/or hot water combustion zones, or are located more than 30 miles from Chevy Chase, MD.

* Discounts are available for Maryland Energy and Sustainability Co-Op members, Town of Chevy Chase residents, houses that have no combustion appliances, and groups of 4 or more. Please inquire about discounts that may apply to you. Only 1 discount is available per household.

Implementation of Energy Efficiency Improvements

APPROACH

Live Green has the expertise and relationships to provide our clients with true full-service energy performance contracting, which means we are available to implement the energy efficiency improvements that have been recommended in our Home Performance Report in accordance with our high quality standards, in a timely manner and to serve your best interests.

Live Green provides “concierge” services without the concierge price, and represents your best interests throughout the installation process:

We make all arrangements for implementing the work you need (no more, no less) without any hassle to you. (You don’t even need to be there.)

We use a licensed installer with extensive experience.

We prep the work area (including laying down protective walkways).

We oversee the entire installation, making sure it is done right.

We do a second post-work clean up after the installer’s clean up.

We follow up to test-out the improvements and to make sure you are satisfied with the results.

Live Green is NOT a “typical” full-service energy performance contractor.

We provide our Home Performance Analysis services without the requirement that we be hired to implement the work. (Some firms will only provide an audit if they are also engaged to implement the work.)
We only deliver a Proposal for implementing the recommended work if desired by our client. (Some firms push their implementation services by including an estimate within their analysis.)
We will provide a list of other recommended contractors, at a homeowner’s request. (Some firms will not assist you in finding competing bids.) We are confident that our Proposal will be competitive.

We take these steps because (a) we want to avoid an actual or perceived conflict of interest between our Home Performance Analysis and Implementation services, and (b) our goal is to have the Improvement work performed (whether or now we do the work) so that each client, and the environment, will benefit.

DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSAL

After completing the Home Performance Analysis and at a client’s request, Live Green will prepare a detailed, competitive Work Proposal for implementing the energy efficiency improvements outlined in our Home Performance Report, which includes all fees and costs for the following:

All labor and materials, provided by a licensed, bonded and insured contractor with 30+ years of experience installing insulation and air sealing.

AND

Live Green's “concierge” management and owner’s representation services, to ensure that the work that you need is properly & timely completed your satisfaction and without hassle.

AND

Follow Up Testing after the energy efficiency improvements are implemented, including:
- Test-out of energy systems to ensure that combustion safety has not been adversely affected, and to determine the reduction in air leakage achieved.
- Reporting of data to State of Maryland (for homes located within the State). The homeowner will receive a Certificate of Completion from the MD HPwES program for achieving at least 10% annual energy savings.

FEE FOR SERVICES & COSTS

Live Green’s fee for its Implementation services is included in the Work Proposal cost. We are confident you will find our full-service is competitive with estimates provided by other energy improvement contracting firms.

In addition, Live Green’s Home Performance Analysis customers who implement the recommended energy savings measures with Live Green will receive a 5% discount off the Proposal cost, up to the audit fee paid. (Offer may not be combined with any other promotional discount. Available for Proposals of $1,500 or greater.)

And, Maryland Energy and Sustainability Cooperative customers will receive a 10% discount off the Proposal cost.

Also, note that there are many financial and other benefits, as well as tax incentives and other financing tools, that will help offset the cost of implementing the work.

Energy Advisory and Design & Construction Services

APPROACH

Live Green’s principals have the expertise to provide energy advisory and design & construction services for any residential project. This includes energy efficiency consulting, architectural design, interior design, space planning and green construction practices for new construction and rehabilitation projects.

DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

Energy Efficiency Consulting: Work with homeowners and/or builders to provide expertise on appropriate energy efficiency practices and "whole-house" thinking for new construction & renovation projects.
Design Evaluation: Review space usage and layout of existing spaces or floor plans to improve functionality. A design evaluation of your home will identify ways to improve your home's functionality and space efficiency. And, implementing the recommended improvements will increase its value and usefulness.
Project Design & Documentation: Develop design concepts and prepare documentation for permitting and construction.
Project Management: Oversee implementation of construction projects, including new construction & renovations.

FEE FOR SERVICES

Live Green conducts an initial meeting with a potential client to discuss concerns regarding the home’s energy efficiency and/or functionality, and to identify potential areas of improvement. (This initial meeting is free, and up to 1 hour in duration.) We will then develop a scope of work for the project and provide a free, no obligation quote for our services.

Live Green’s fee for Energy Advisory and Design & Construction Services is based on the scope of each project and may be calculated on an hourly basis, as a percentage of total cost of work to be completed, or as a lump sum amount.