Local Business Can Help Save 30% of Your Energy Bill

As the summer heat greets Redwood City, locals are taking refuge in the air-conditioned cool of their homes and offices. But while the temperature rises, so do energy costs and wasted dollars.

Redwood City based energy business EcoFactor is determined to beat the heat while saving money and the environment by factoring in the unique characteristics of each home, from the number of bedrooms to the outside temperatures and weather.

“Energy management seemed to lack any animation,” said senior vice president of products and co-founder Scott Hublou. “After a couple of times the new smell went away.”

According to Hublou, 50 percent of all energy consumed is from heating and cooling systems. With EcoFactor, customers have found an average of 17 percent savings but some have saved as much as 30 percent.

“All of a sudden, that translates into energy consumption savings,” Hublou said.

EcoFactor utilizes a communicating thermostat that corresponds with the online EcoFactor management service. Through a two-way connection between the thermostat and Internet connection, the EcoFactor system analyzes 24,000 data points to discover exactly how much energy is required to heat and cool each individual home.

“We thought, 'what would the consumer do if they were paying attention?'” Hublou said. “We’re actually paying attention for them.”

Data is collected every 60 seconds and has proven to be incredibly valuable at times when demand exceeds supply, Hublou said. While other programmable heating and cooling systems must be adjusted manually, the EcoFactor management system adjusts for you.

“Generally what happens is on hot days there’s a spike in energy demand,” he said.

When currents can’t handle demands, problems arise for both consumer and the energy provider. The EcoFactor management system eases demand during peak hours because it understands each individual home and what is needed to keep heating and cooling at a comfortable level.

“A lot of people ask why no one has done this before,” Hublou said.

EcoFactor grades each home on an A-F scale, much like a report card.

“Our house was built in the ‘80s, so I know it’s not the best envelope for energy efficiency. However, in the downstairs unit of our home we installed an energy star unit, energy efficient windows, and a new radiant barrier,” said EcoFactor customer Wade Hyde of Dallas, Texas. “We thought we were doing a great job. You never think to check after someone has installed that kind of new equipment."

EcoFactor, which assesses homes ability to withstand temperature based on factors such as weather conditions and unique characteristics, evaluated Hyde’s house and delivered a devastating D.

Shocked, Hyde assumed EcoFactor had made a mistake. A technician was sent to Hyde’s home to do another evaluation just in case the algorithms were incorrect.

“But what happened was the EcoFactor system picked up that something was wrong and that’s what caused me to investigate,” Hyde said. “After all, there was no way I was going to spend all of this money and get a terrible grade.”

Technicians at EcoFactor found that because of a disruption of two air ducts, hot air was being drawn into Hyde’s attic, which was receiving hot air from his clothes dryer. Hyde, who had thought that he had the most energy efficient equipment, said he is grateful for the grade he was given in the end.

“Turns out, had I not had the EcoFactor report card, I would have been air conditioning my attic for years, and never know about it,” Hyde said. “I’m definitely looking forward to getting a passing grade next spring."

Hyde’s account as an EcoFactor customer revealed to the founders another important aspect of the company.

“It was at that moment we realized our grades are a way to detect systems,” Hublou said. “One-third of all houses are in a state of disrepair and that was a huge revelation for us.”

Hublou said everyone at EcoFactor uses the management system in their homes, but he is somewhat ahead in that he is testing out future EcoFactor products.

“My house and, unfortunately, my wife is the guinea pig,” he laughed.

EcoFactor hopes to expand with more channel providers and cable operators and become the main energy efficient service.

“Our ability is to optimize each system and identify waste,” Hublou said.

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