2004 NEEP Conference Energy Efficiency Policy and Applied Policy

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2004 NEEP ConferenceEnergy Efficiency Policy and
Applied Policy

• Tools for Strengthening Building Energy Code
  Implementation
• The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Approach
• Patrick Haller
• Richard Faesy
• Mike DeWein

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What Are HERS?

• A standardized, professional approach to rating
  homes on 0-100 scale
• 80 points to be matched to IECC 2004 reference
  home
• National HERS Standards through RESNET
  (Residential Energy Services Network)
• Technical Standards
• Accreditation Standards
• Software Accreditation and Standardization
• Training Providers

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What Are HERS?

• Accredited HERS Providers in all 50 states
• Spotty?
• Certified raters work under Providers
• Pass national test
• Supervised ratings
• Quality assurance by their Provider

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How Can HERS Be Used for Code Compliance?

• International Code Council allows for HERS to
  demonstrate compliance under International Energy
  Conservation Code
• 2004 Supplement
• 404.6.2 Approved tools. Performance analysis
  tools shall be approved. Tools are permitted to
  be approved based on meeting a specified
  threshold for a jurisdiction, such as an
  accredited home energy rating system (HERS) tool.
  The code official shall be permitted to approve
  tools for a specified application or limited
  scope.
• State Legislation allowances
• AK, AR, CA, FL, IO, KS, MA, OH, NY, TX, VT

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How Can HERS Be Used for Code Compliance?

• State Legislation allowances
• Western States Alaska, California,
• Mid-West Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio
• Southern Florida
• Northeast Massachusetts, New York, Vermont

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Selected State Approaches

• New Jersey
• ENERGY STAR Home certification code compliance
• NJ Department of Community Affairs approval
• Massachusetts
• Score of 83 or higher is considered to comply
  with the intent of the Mass. energy code
• California
• HERS raters can demonstrate performance testing
  (e.g. duct tightness) for builders to use in
  trading off against prescriptive measures under
  Title 24
• Vermont
• 82 points code compliance
• Required State Accreditation
• Effective approach to lure builders to exceed
  code

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Future Directions

• 2004/2005 International Code Council Proposal
• American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
  proposed
• 103.1.1 Home Energy Ratings A proposed building
  for which the builder or buyer obtains a final
  rating certificate by an accredited Home Energy
  Rating System (HERS) may, at the code officials
  discretion, be considered to comply with the
  intent of this code
• RESNET has aligned the HERS reference house
  exactly to IECC 2004 so that a code house will
  80 points
• New HERS Technical Standards to go into effect in
  2006

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The Vermont Case Study

• Original code-enabling legislation allowed for a
  HERS-compliance approach
• 82 points for single-family or multifamily home
• 80 points for log home (a political compromise)
• Vermont has no code officials to enforce energy
  code
• Builder self-certification
• Home owners may seek damages for non-compliance
• Governors Code Task Force sought ways to involve
  energy professionals
• Code is used as entrée to Vermont ENERGY STAR
  Homes service
• Except in Burlington

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Codes and ENERGY STAR in VT

• 40 of new homes in Vermont participate at some
  level
• Energy professional involvement- Technical
  Assistance
• Expert advice on Energy Efficiency, Building
  Science, and Code Compliance to educate builders
• Performance testing of completed homes
• About 1,000 in incentives available
• Completion of Energy Code submittal documentation
  as part of service

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Energy Code Assistance Center

• Toll Free 800
• Technical support to owners, builders, lenders,
  Realtors
• Staffed by HERS raters
• Temporarily Funded by DOE SEP grant funds
• Training of builders and others
• New ventilation requirement starts in 2005
• Lumber yards and manufacturers paid for most of
  trainings

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Lessons Learned in VT

• Enabling legislation should spell out HERS
  compliance option
• Manufacturers and suppliers will support code
  efforts
• HERS providers and Utility DSM programs can lead
  the way
• Guide the building trades network toward upcoming
  code changes
• Create a trusted source of information/advice
  that is not used as a means of Enforcement

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Lessons Learned in VT

• Pair Code and nationally recognized ENERGY STAR
  Home services together to leverage both efforts
• Train on code, but tie in (and promote) high
  performance beyond code - such as ENERGY STAR
  Homes program to drive builders to participation

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Thank you!

• Patrick Haller
• Vermont Energy Investment Corp.
• 255 S. Champlain St.
• Burlington, VT 05401
• 802-658-6060 x1045
• phaller_at_veic.org