About the President of Home Energy Control Inc.
“I would only recommend effective applications to your home that I would do to mine.”
The owner and president, Rick Ariagno, studied Engineering and Physics as an undergraduate student and completed his M.S. Degree in Industrial Technology. Summers off from college and later summers off from his work as a vocational education teacher were spent working at a variety of engineering and construction related jobs.
In 1980, while serving as Acting Director of Career and Vocational Education, Rick secured a grant to build an energy efficient, passive solar home. The home was completed by the Building Trades Program at Joliet Township High Schools. He later left education to enter the private sector as Training Director for Energy Alert, Inc. This start up division of Insta Foam Products was to be a nation-wide franchise network. The company provided energy audits and a mix of products to cut utility costs. When upper level management made the decision to terminate this R&D project, Rick seized the opportunity and started his own company patterned after the Energy Alert business model.
During the energy crisis of the 70’s, insulation sales skyrocketed in response to rising energy costs. The industry quickly learned that adding insulation and tightening buildings also created problems with indoor air quality, moisture, mold and building degradation. Ironically, many of these homes still had comfort issues and high energy bills. These problems gave rise to a new area of study called building science. Rick entered the field as all of this new research was evolving. He attended countless classes and seminars on building science. He also completed several certification programs on energy auditing, diagnostics and installation of various thermal/acoustical products. As a result of this building science training, Home Energy Control, Inc, evolved into an entity different from every other insulation company.
Rick Ariagno has spent the last 30 years of his life networking with experts and becoming a recognized authority in his own right on building science, building envelope design and sound attenuation.
Rick's training in building science, diagnostics, insulation, air sealing and acoustics includes the following:
- Received certification as an Energy Auditor through The University of Massachusetts.
- Completed certification course on House Tightening, Building Science and Blower Door Testing through National Thermal Performance Institute.
- Attended multiple training sessions on retrofit insulation techniques, application of spray applied cellulose insulation and air sealing for new home construction through Applegate Insulation.
- Received certification for application of spray applied thermal/acoustical insulation and thermal acoustical finishes through Thermo-Con International.
- Receive certification for application of K-13 thermal/acoustical finishes through International Cellulose Corporation.
- Received training on reverberant noise, sound absorption and sound transmission through International Cellulose Corporation.
- Regularly attended Building Science Conferences hosted by The Energy Efficient Building Association and the Affordable Comfort Conference.
- Presenter for the Energy Efficient Building Association and the Affordable Comfort Conference.
- Served on the planning committee for the Affordable Comfort Conference for three years.
- Guest speaker and trainer for a construction technology course taught by Bob O'Brian at Moraine Valley Community College and Joliet Junior College for the last 20 years.
- Performed training seminars for Applegate Insulation, Themocon International, and International Cellulose Corporation.
- Participated in "box lunch" training sessions for numerous architectural and acoustical consulting firms throughout the Chicago area.
More Information on Building Performance and System Thinking.