Builders, Code Officials, and HERS Raters Working Together

Transcription

1 This webinar is being recorded and will be available at: Builders, Code Officials, and HERS Raters Working Together Introduction Presented by: Mike Turns, Senior Program Manager Performance Systems Development (PSD) Principle Investigator, Pennsylvania Energy Code Field Study/Penn Energy Codes Program

2 Continuing Education PA L&I CEUs for code officials for this webinar ($20 admin fee): After the webinar, go to: Answer all poll questions Enter the code to be given later in the webinar Groups watching the webinar from the same computer must send a signin list including the name, and signature of each attendee. These individuals must also take and pass the post-webinar quiz Program Resources Current program offerings: Free Energy Consultations for Builders Custom training and technical assistance for code officials and builders/contractors Classroom training and webinars E-CODE Assistant ipad app Energy Code Challenge Website:

3 Overview 1. Introduction of the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) 2. Who are HERS Raters? 3. Relationship between codes and Rater skills 4. Communication and documentation 5 What is your profession? POLL 1

4 How would you rate your knowledge of the Home Energy Rating System (HERS)? POLL 2 7 What is the Home Energy Rating System? 8

5 What is the Home Energy Rating System? 9 What is the Home Energy Rating System? ANSI/RESNET : Standard for the Calculation and Labeling of the Energy Performance of Low-Rise Residential Buildings using the HERS Index Certified Raters perform: Software analysis Performance testing Blower door Duct leakage Insulation and air barrier inspections 10

6 Market Share of HERS Rated Homes Homes Rated %of SF Permits Homes Rated %of SF Permits United States 146,739 23% 190,180 28% Pennsylvania 2,408 15% 3,128 23% Number and proportion of Rated homes is growing What is the Home Energy Rating System? Section R406: Energy Rating Index Compliance Alternative 12

7 Who are Home Energy Raters? Trained residential energy experts: Two-week long training National Rater Exam Mentoring for first 5 Ratings Providership QA on a percentage of all Ratings Continuing education 13 What services can HERS Raters provide? Utility Rebate Programs Building science consulting/ comfort/ diagnostics IRS Tax Credit Code Services Above-Code Services

8 IECC Requirements Suited for HERS Raters Air sealing list Above-code programs Above-code programs Above-code programs UA Tradeoff UA Tradeoff UA Tradeoff UA Tradeoff Equipment sizing/select Equipment sizing/select Equipment sizing/select Equipment sizing/select Simulated Performance Alternative Blower door test (optional) Detailed air sealing and insulation inspection criteria Blower door test (mandatory) Detailed air sealing and insulation inspection criteria Blower door test (mandatory) Detailed air sealing and insulation inspection criteria Duct testing Duct testing Duct testing Simulated Performance Alternative Simulated Performance Alternative Simulated Performance Alternative Energy Rating Index Path Equipment Sizing/Selection Equipment selected per Manual S, based on calculations performed using Manual J

9 Air Sealing Verification Building envelope air tightness and insulation installation shall be demonstrated by: Blower door test, or Visual inspection Building official may require third party agency to conduct either blower door test, visual inspection or both Testing Option Building Envelope Leakage Limits Max leakage: 7.0 ACH50 ACH50 = Air Changes per Hour at 50 Pascals of pressure Roughly equal to 0.35 ACH natural

10 Air Barrier and Insulation Inspections Air barrier and thermal barrier External envelope insulation for framed walls is installed in substantial contact and continuous alignment with building envelope air barrier Shower/tub on exterior wall Showers and tubs on exterior walls have insulation and an air barrier separating them from the exterior wall Air Barrier and Insulation Inspections IECC Where required by the code official, an approved party independent from the installer of the insulation shall inspect the air barrier and insulation Code office may provide a list of approved parties

11 IECC Duct Leakage Verification Four options: Max cfm25/100 sqft CFA Post-construction test Leakage to Outdoors 8 Total Leakage 12 Rough-in test Total Leakage 6 Total w/o air handler 4 CFM25 = Cubic Feet per Minute at 25 Pascals of pressure CFA = Conditioned Floor Area served by the system UA Tradeoff Helping builders find cost-effective building thermal envelope solutions 22

12 Simulated Performance Alternative Compares the estimated annual energy cost of a proposed design to the standard reference design (similar to a rating) Thermal envelope tradeoffs Air tightness credit Duct tightness and insulation credit Software Tools Ekotrope, HERS Module v2.0 Ekotrope Website: ekotrope.com Date of Expiration: December 31, 2016 EnergyGauge USA V 5.0 Florida Solar Energy Center Website: Date of Expiration: December 31, 2016 IC3 v4.01 Energy Systems Laboratory Website: ic3.tamu.edu/ Date of Expiration: December 31, 2016 REM/Rate REM/Design NORESCO Website: Date of Expiration: December 31, 2016 Right-Energy IECC Wrightsoft Corporation Website: Date of Expiration: December 31, 2016 RESNET Accredited IECC Performance Verification Tools (not a code requirement) 24

13 Above-code Programs IECC Above code programs. The code official shall be permitted to deem national, state or local energy efficiency program to exceed this code Buildings approved in writing by such a program shall be considered in compliance with this code Mandatory requirements shall be met Have you ever spoken with a HERS Rater? POLL 3 26

14 Have you ever worked with a HERS Rater? POLL 4 27 COOPERATION 28

15 Raters and Code Officials Mutual Respect HERS Raters are not Code Officials Can be a resource for code officials and builders Code Officials are not HERS Raters Can be a resource for Raters and builders 29 Raters and Code Officials working together - Challenges Differing interpretations of the code Code official, Rater, builder, neighboring code official What Helps? Go to the source review code language together Use ICC code commentaries and interpretation services Refer to building science and code resources Connect with colleagues Keep an open mind Code official in each jurisdiction has the final say 30

16 Raters and Code Officials working together - Opportunities Complementary expertise Code officials Top priorities life/health/safety Busy May lack training and/or interest in energy Raters Top priorities energy/health/comfort Energy specialists Energy geeks with lots of training 31 Raters and Builders Builder concerns Cost Liability Customer satisfaction Increasing sales Raters provide Consulting for cost-effective compliance & efficiency QA of subcontractors Reduced comfort complaints Access to marketing tools 32

17 Street Cred Other ideas for Raters: Attend energy code trainings in your area and network with code officials Join your local ICC chapter and attend events Give seminars for builder building department staff and ICC chapters Become a certified energy inspector/plans examiner 33 Providing the Right Documentation 34

18 Documentation Communicate documentation requirements Does the code office have standard forms? If not, Raters can provide examples 35 Documentation Above-Code Programs Certificate Signed checklist of mandatory items

19 IECC 2009 Label 37 Documentation Equipment Sizing/Selection Manual J and S reports

20 Documentation Blower Door Testing Recommended data: ACH50 CFM50 Conditioned volume Pass Name/signature Documentation Air Barrier and Insulation Inspection Name of inspector: Signature: Name of Company: Rater #:

21 Documentation Duct Leakage Documentation Simulated Performance Alternative Certificate from software submitted with plans Plan review/inspection checklist Blower door and duct leakage results Builder s Lot 123 Main St. Anytown, USA Rachel s Ratings Rachel Smtth Builder Barry s Buildings Rachel Smith Rachel s Ratings

22 Summary 43 Summary Raters are a resource for code officials General energy and building science info Code verification/documentation services Raters are a resource for builders Energy and building science consulting Cost-effective energy code (and beyond-code) advice Code verification/documentation services Have conversations and get to know each other 44

23 Energy Code Consultation What it includes: Plan review/software analysis Air barrier and insulation inspection Blower door test Duct leakage test Recommendations Builders/Code Officials/Raters Contact Brandon at: 45 OTHER OPPORTUNITIES 46

24 Sign up for the Energy Code Challenge Congratulations to Robert Hart of Perry County Zoning and Code Enforcement! Winner of the February round of the Challenge You have already earned 50 points in the Energy Code Challenge (link will be also sent in follow-up ) Sign up and enter BCOHR329 to receive 50 points Code Compliance/Education Tablet Tool E-CODE Assistant app Tool: Tablet-based, interactive inspection checklist Intended audience: Energy code inspectors, project managers, Raters Get started at 48

25 Penn Energy Codes Website Training and Technical Assistance Training events: April 7 PENNBOC Region II May 10 PENNBOC Region V More webinars sign up now Custom training/technical assistance Contact Brandon Cornell: bcornell@psdconsulting.com to apply 50

26 Next Month s Webinar Understanding Blower Door Testing and Documenting (or Interpreting) Testing Results April 26, 2016 Noon to 1:00 pm PennEnergyCodes.com/events 51 Continuing Education Hours You will receive a follow-up in about an hour Follow the link and enter: BCOHR329 Or, do it now: