Issue 6 Volume 3
June 2005
Affordable Comfort 2005
by Rogge Miller
What is Affordable Comfort? And is it really worthwhile to a builder? Is it truly affordable or just another excuse to go on vacation and call it a business trip? These are challenging questions, but they are worth asking. Unless you are of the crowd that simply says, “I have built houses like this for 30 years and there’s no reason to change now” (in which case you might consider early retirement), Affordable Comfort is an educational and worthwhile experience. At the conference, one overarching theme connected all others: building science and construction practices are changing. As an attendee, I was able to take part in workshops each day. Following is an overview of some of the most valuable sessions for builders:
Day 1 (Monday): All day classes on “Insulation and Beyond: Building Enclosures for Efficiency and Comfort” or “Designing and Building Homes: Healthy, Durable, Comfortable, and Efficient.” I attended the first of these two courses and came away with a massive amount of material.
Day 2 (Tuesday): Topics of interest for builders would include “Residential Energy: Technical First Principles and Practical Applications”, “Wood Products: Properties and Performance”, “Grade and Below-Grade Slab Moisture Problems”, and “The House as a System” among several other topics.
Day 3 (Wednesday): Three of the first five topics of a total of twelve total topics for the 10:00 to 11:40 AM for this day were “Wood Products: Mold and Decay Fungi”, “Emerging HVAC Technology and Practices”, and “Going Green and Solar with Affordable Housing.” And there were two other twelve topic sessions in the afternoon.
Day 4 (Thursday): Well, you get the idea. Mark Twain said, “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” Many of us have been schooled in our chosen profession and it becomes ingrained. My dad trained me to be a ceramic tile contractor and I was not quick to accept change within the industry; at least not until I finally changed to the new flexible thinsets and our repair work for slight slab cracks went down by 80%. Change is part of life and we either adapt or get left behind. Also, change is healthy and productive and essential for progress when it is based on increased knowledge and experience. So is the Affordable Comfort conference a good place for builders to sharpen their skills and discover new ideas? You betcha!
What Do You Do With Your Construction Waste?
The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) has recently updated its Construction Waste Management Database. The database is a free, online resource to assist builders in reducing their construction and demolition waste. Waste recyclers are invited to advertise their services for free, and all of this is available at www.wbdg.org/tools/cwm.php
The site contains information on hauling, collecting and processing recyclable debris. The user-friendly format allows searches by state or zip code as well as a list of the fifteen most commonly discarded materials. Please check out this site for the recycling service near you.
Inspector’s Corner
Sealing Ducts...
by Derrence Freeman, City Manager
Cooling and heating equipment is only as good as the system that carries the heated or cooled air. Leaky ducts can cause an unbalanced system that results in a house with supply and return leaks as well as wasted energy. Several states (Florida, California, Washington, Arkansas) and organizations have conducted studies which conclude that 10-30% of heating and cooling energy is lost to duct leakage. These studies illustrated the most severe leakage at the plenums (sheet metal or duct board boxes that connect to the top, bottom or side of an air-handling unit).
Several codes and laws have been enacted to reduce system inefficiencies and energy loss. The Home Energy Rating System (HERS) and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) have developed programs and standards to govern the installation and sealing of heating, ventilation and cooling systems. The Home Energy Rating System has programs (ENERGY STAR, Environments for Living & Building America) that establish allowable duct leakage, air balance, and sizing for heating, ventilation and cooling systems. The ENERGY STAR Program outlines criteria for duct-testing procedures to identify leakage areas; this includes sealing with tape and mastic and securing the duct system. The air handler and plenum connections must be sealed with approved tapes and duct mastics. All ductwork must be sealed- first, mastic the starter collar, and then insert the inner liner and tie. Second, insert the insulation liner and tie. Block all wall and floor cavity returns and mastic seams from any unconditioned space. Mastic the register box seams and tabs with no more than a ¼” gap between the box and sheetrock. The International Energy Conservation Code requires all joints, longitudinal and transverse seams and connections in ductwork, to be securely fastened and sealed with welds, gaskets and mastics. All tapes and mastics must be listed and labeled in accordance with UL 181A or UL 181B. The differences between the ENERGY STAR Program and IECC are small but important. ENERGY STAR requires mastic for all areas, while IECC allows a choice between approved tapes and mastic. The main concern with tape is that over time, fluctuations in temperature may cause the tape to lose its adhesive properties. In the field, I have conducted several inspections where plenums were falling apart and losing a considerable amount of conditioned air simply because tape was the only sealant.
This information was compiled from the 2003 Residential Energy Book and my experiences in the industry.
Announcement:
The NAHB is taking applications for the 2006 Energy Value Housing Award, but the deadline is approaching fast...
Over the past few years, GWSSI has assisted builders in winning six of these awards. We provide award submission services that range from consultation to creation of the actual submission based upon the builder’s individual needs. The EVHA award is among the most prestigious available to builders, and with a professionally prepared submission, the chances of winning are tremendous.
However, the deadline for applications is August 8th, 2005 and our marketing team requires at least two weeks to prepare a submission, so if you are interested, please contact us as soon as possible at 405-946-0206 or email tevans@gwssi.com
We’d love to help you win this award!
For more information, included is the official email sent by the NAHB today:
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Michael McCabe, Program Manager of the Building Technologies Program in the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, honored the 2005 EVHA winners at a packed ceremony held in Orlando during the 2005 International Builders' Show (IBS)—the world’s largest construction trade show.
Apply now for the 2006 EVHA and join the ranks of the energy-efficient elite. All applicants receive a written peer review by a panel of industry experts, a complimentary copy of the EVHA Guide: How to Build and Profit with Energy Efficiency in New Home Construction, and free tickets to the EVHA Dinner Ceremony to be held during the 2006 IBS in Orlando.
EVHA applications are due postmarked by August 8, 2005. Contact Kevin Mo, project manager, or visit the EVHA website for more details.
Kevin Mo, Ph.D.
EnergyValue Housing Award Program Manager
NAHB Research Center
400 Prince George's Blvd
Upper Marlboro, MD 20774-8731
http://www.nahbrc.org/evha
evha@nahbrc.org
Tel: (301) 430-6277 or (800) 638-8556 x6277
Fax: (301) 430-6180
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