ADVERTORIAL
Case Study:
A
Lifesaving
Discovery
By Tom Dinette,
CEO - Simmitri, Inc.
Pamela Garcia,
Founder, Simmitri.
Simmitri is a Silicon
Valley Corporation,
birthed in the
Gilroy/Morgan Hill
area, in 1995, that
helps it’s residential
and commercial cli-
entele harness Solar
Energy Technology
in all its forms today,
and into the future.
408.779.3333
simmitri.com
Simmitri’s Solar Home Energy Assessment Revealed
a Fatal Flaw in a Customer’s Heating System
M
ark and Margaret Stodger were
informed that their newly-
purchased home would need
a roof replacement. Being environmentally
conscious, they knew that they were going
to take the opportunity to “Go Solar” as well.
They wanted to have the entire roof, solar,
and energy storage project completed by one
company. Based on a business referral from one
of their neighbors, Mark and Margaret decided
to schedule a consultation with Simmitri. Once
the Stodgers made the decision to move for-
ward with the solar project, the comprehensive
energy assessment was scheduled. During
the assessment, Simmitri’s energy efficiency
building performance analysts discovered a
carbon monoxide leak caused by a cracked heat
exchanger in the furnace. This discovery saved
the Stodgers from what would have been a life-
threatening situation in their new home!
Carbon monoxide is often called the “silent
killer” because it is capable of taking a life
before its victim is aware they are at risk. It
is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless gas that
is slightly less dense than air. When a person
breathes in carbon monoxide, the amount of
oxygen carried to the cells decreases, essentially
suffocating each blood cell. On average, more
than 400 people in the United States die
every year from carbon monoxide poisoning
produced by non-automotive appliances. The
number of people who experience health
problems related to carbon monoxide exposure
is estimated at 30,000 per year. The possible
short-term effects include nausea, confusion,
vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016
Potential long-term effects include chronic
headaches, increased risk of heart disease,
and early dementia.
Mark and Margaret’s new home was
producing upwards of 541 parts per million
concentration of carbon monoxide in the
air. At this level, three hours of exposure
could have been life threatening! After our
assessment, Margaret told us “If I had to
move, I would do the energy audit again
just to understand my house. We had to
replace the furnace; that’s fine, but thank-
fully that’s the worst that happened.”
Very few Solar Energy companies
acknowledge the need for a comprehen-
sive energy assessment before designing a
solar system. Even fewer conduct them.
Simmitri, however, takes this part of the
solar process very seriously. During the
energy assessment, a health and safety test
is performed on all gas-fired appliances to
ensure that the gas is being released from
the home properly. The health and safety
test is vital in identifying the level of carbon
monoxide that is being produced when
these appliances are running. Simmitri has
found in practice, not just in theory, that
an energy assessment is essential in the
design of an efficient solar system and the
safety and well-being of homeowners.
BOTTOM LINE:
Simmitri encourages all customers who
are looking at different solar companies
to choose one that understands the vital
importance of the “whole home” approach
to solar. It may just save a life.
gmhtoday.com
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