DwellTech Solutions has seen a big jump in demand for its services in making West Michigan homes more energy efficient, and the result is more West Michigan jobs.
The Grand Rapids-based company (959 Wealthy St. SE, Suite 2) grew its volume by eight times over the past couple of years, which was a bit too fast, says owner Brian Bosgraaf. And it's still growing, albeit at a purposely slower pace, with the addition of a carpenter and a VP since January, and plans for at least three more people in 2012 to work as building analysts and weatherization technicians.
DwellTech Solutions performs high-tech energy efficiency tests in clients' homes to determine where air infiltration, lack of insulation and other issues are sabotaging the homes' energy performance. The tests can also detect health issues like gas and carbon monoxide leaks. DwellTech can also fix those issues, if the client chooses.
"Most homes in West Michigan have never been checked for how much air is infiltrating the house through gaps, leaks and bad seams," Bosgraaf says. "Sometimes, newer houses are worse than older houses because they have recessed lights that can penetrate the attic and have all kinds of leaks around them. We do a blower door test before the fixes and do the same test again afterward and show that we're getting 30 to 50 percent less air infiltration."
Bosgraaf says DwellTech had two employees at the start of 2010 and is now up to 10. The firm works closely with the
West Michigan Environmental Action Council (WMEAC) in the
Better Buildings for Michigan program.
DwellTech received WMEAC's 2011 Contractor Of The Year award and Local First's 2012
LocalMotion Triple Bottom Line Up & Coming Business award.
Source: Brian Bosgraaf, DwellTech Solutions
Writer: Deborah Johnson Wood, Development News Editor
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