Welcome to Green Step
For 15 years, Green Step was one of the most successful contractors within Pepco’s Home Performance with Energy Star program. Over the years we weatherized more than 1,000 homes, adding insulation in attics, basements, and crawlspaces. We properly air-sealed gaps, voids, and bypasses in the building envelope to reduce conditioned air from leaving the home and unwanted outside air from entering it. We insulated and sealed HVAC ductwork to reduce conditioned air losses, improve indoor air quality, and improve the delivery of airflow and temperatures to rooms throughout the home. We found sources of water intrusion to help minimize mold growth. All of the improvements resulted in enhancing the feeling of comfort throughout the home and reduced overall energy usage, contributing to cost savings on utility expenses.
Jim McKenna
Founder, Green Step
I’m Jim McKenna, the owner of Green Step Consulting. I owned and operated Green Step, a home performance contracting firm, from 2007-2022.
My entry into the insulation and weatherization business came about from necessity. In 2006, my wife and I began a large remodeling project at our home. Part of the renovation included a first-floor master bedroom. We were very pleased with the ascetics of the new room. However, on the very first night we spent in it, my wife complained that the room felt cold. This was in September, and like a typical husband, I just dismissed the idea. After all, my wife always felt colder than me. Yet, around Thanksgiving, I began to feel that the room was cold too.
I contacted our contractor and mentioned our concerns with the cool temperature. He came to our home, looked around, and said everything was ‘built to code’ and there wasn’t anything he could do about it. Well, that wasn’t a solution. So, I embarked on a mission to determine what we could do to improve things.
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My research led me to Energy Star new home construction program. The intent of the program was to ensure that new homes were built to a very stringent energy efficiency standard. The homes were inspected and evaluated by HERS raters (Home Energy Rating System). I enrolled in a class to become a rater.
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Upon earning my certificate, I evaluated homes to ensure that insulation was properly installed in attics, basements, and walls. Testing was performed to determine if homes were thoroughly air sealed to minimize drafts and reduce energy demands and HVAC ductwork was tested to certify that they were correctly sealed.
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Then in late 2007, I learned about the Maryland Home Performance with Energy Star Program. The initiative was created with the goal of reducing energy usage with MD existing residential homes by 15% by 2020. I enrolled in the first class Montgomery County offered to teach individuals about building science principles. The teaching was conducted with instructors certified by the Building Performance Institute (BPI). BPI is the national leader in residential energy efficiency for existing homes and has established numerous compliance protocols to improve and document health, safety, and efficiency with a dwelling.
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After passing tests in building science knowledge and testing techniques, I became a BPI Building Analyst. The first house I audited was my own home. My home was built in 1984. The insulation had not been touched since that time. It was far below current DOE recommendations and there were many gaps and missing areas of material. I tested my home to determine air leakage, and not surprisingly, there was work to do there too. I also inspected the newly constructed sections and found that the insulation, while higher, was still not well installed.
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I looked around to see if there were any contractors who specialized in energy efficiency improvements. I couldn’t find any, so I decided to take on the job myself. Since it was my first job, I made some mistakes and got a few aches and pains from it. But, at the end of the day, it was worth it. The comfort improvements were noticeable the very first night after I finished.
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Seeing a business opportunity, I formed Green Step with the goal of delivering the best quality energy efficiency work, adhering to all the principles of building science. I enrolled in the Pepco HP with Energy Star program. The program offered significant rebates to homeowners that made energy improvements. I bought equipment, trained a crew, and was off and running. For 15 years, Green Step consistently delivered a quality job. Along the way, we worked in Montgomery County, Frederick County, and the State of Maryland weatherization programs. We were recognized and awarded for our efforts by the EPA. In 2022, due to some personal issues regarding the health of my mother and uncle, I stepped aside from Green Step to focus on caring for them. Things have returned to a more normal pace for me now and I am available to help any homeowner with a variety of concerns.
Accolades
Home Performance with Energy Star Century Club Award (2017-2020)
Member of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley’s Workforce Initiative Board as an energy auditing consultant
Top contractor in Kwh savings within Pepco’s service area (2019 and 2020)