Issue11 Volume 4

November 2006

Tax Credits and
Timely Tips for Winter Energy Bill Relief e
This winter, consumers will experience little relief from 2005 heating costs as prices will remain high for a colder winter than last year. But instead of panicking, consumers can take simple, low-cost steps, and can also use federal tax credits for efficiency investments to improve comfort and save money. The American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE) and other organizations have created a one-stop-shopping resource for the tax credits at www.energytaxincentives.org. Homeowners can get up to $500 total in credits for high-efficiency heating equipment, air conditioners, and water heaters, as well as replacement windows, insulation, duct sealing, and air leakage reduction. Since these incentives run out at the end of 2007, now may be a good time to make these investments.

ACEEE offers several resources to help consumers stay comfortable while lowering winter energy costs, from no-cost/low-cost measures to major investments. "Consumers can often get the best 'bang' for their limited 'bucks' by taking low-cost steps to run their homes more efficiently before investing in big-ticket items," said Katie Ackerly of the Buildings Program research staff. Consumers can cut their energy use by following the simple, inexpensive tips that ACEEE offers in the Consumer Guide: Condensed Online Version.

Five practical, low-cost/no-cost steps are:

* Clean or replace furnace filters monthly or as specified.
* Get a tune-up for your heating system: every year for oil, every 2 or
   3 years for other fuels.
* Close your storm windows or install temporary shrink-wrap storm
   window kits.
* Set back your thermostat overnight and when you're away from home;             better yet, install a programmable thermostat to do it for you.
* Seal seams and gaps in exposed ductwork, and then insulate the ducts.

These and other tips are all available for free on ACEEE's Web site.
Reprinted from the The ACEEE web site

 
New Congressional Agenda

The Associated Press reported on November, 19th, that the House and Senate Democratic leadership places energy policy as a key priority for the new Congress. According to the report the first energy legislation that will be introduced when the new Congress goes into session in January will address rolling back some of the tax credits given to the oil and gas industry in the 2005 Energy Policy Act. A more comprehensive energy bill will then be introduced to address the imbalance between energy efficiency and renewable energy and traditional energy development.

According to the Associated Press the priorities in the comprehensive energy policy is mandatory national utility portfolio standards for renewable energy sources and extension of the energy efficiency tax incentives.

It is planned that the savings of rolling back the oil and gas tax credits would be used to pay for the new energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives.

Thermal Bypass Checlist
Has Changed Again!
by Kenny Lackey, GWS City Manager, Dallas / Fort Worth

In response to significant changes in residential energy codes and standards, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a new set of guidelines for ENERGY STAR qualified homes. A major new requirement to be implemented in 2006 is the Thermal Bypass Checklist.

The Thermal Bypass Checklist is a 16-point list of building details where thermal bypass or movement of heat around or through insulation, frequently occurs due to missing air barriers or gaps between the air barrier and insulation. Reducing thermal bypasses are important as they can lead to comfort and warranty issues as well as higher utility bills.

Key Points:

• If state, local or regional energy code contradicts the Energy Star Thermal Bypass Checklist, precedence must be given to the state, local or regional energy code.
• Precedence should also be given to guidelines set by regional Energy Star programs
• Subject to the Providers approval, builders may self-verify up to six items on the list: the remaining items must be verified by a certified home energy rater. (GWS does not allow the builder to verify any items, at this time).
• Not all details will apply to every home (e.g. some homes may not have a room above the garage or cantilevers) these items should be checked as “NA” for Not Applicable by the HERS rater.
• Any items found to be non-compliant with the Thermal Bypass Checklist must be corrected.

Revisions for the TBC are listed below:

The Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist must be completed for homes to earn the ENERGY STAR label. The Checklist requires visual inspection of framing areas where air barriers are commonly missed and inspection of insulation to ensure proper alignment with air barriers, thus serving as an extra check that the air and thermal barriers are continuous and complete. State, local, and regional codes, as well as regional ENERGY STAR program requirements, supersede the items specified in this Checklist.

Guidance on Completing the Thermal Bypass Inspection Checklist:

• Accredited HERS Providers and certified home energy raters shall use their experience and discretion in verifying that each Inspection Checklist item is installed per the inspection guidelines (e.g., identifying minor defects that the Provider or rater deems acceptable versus identifying major defects that undermine the intent of the Checklist item).
• Alternative methods of meeting the Checklist requirements may be used in completing the Checklist, if the Provider deems them to be equivalent, or more stringent, than the Inspection Checklist guidelines.
• In the event an item on the Checklist cannot be verified by the rater, the home cannot be qualified as ENERGY STAR, unless the builder assumes responsibility for verifying, under the direction and oversight of the Provider, that the item has met the requirements of the Checklist. This option is available at the discretion of the Provider or rater but may not be used to verify more than six (6) items on the Inspection Checklist. This responsibility will be formally acknowledged by the builder signing-off on the Checklist for the item(s) that they verified. The column titled “N/A” should be used when the checklist item is not present in the home or when local code requirements take precedent.
• The Checklist may be completed for a batch of homes using a RESNET-approved sampling protocol when qualifying homes as ENERGY STAR. For example, if the approved sampling protocol requires rating one in seven homes, then the Checklist can be completed for the one home which was rated.
• In the event that a Provider or rater finds an item that is inconsistent with the Checklist Inspection guidelines, the home cannot be qualified as ENERGY STAR until the item is corrected in a manner that meets the ENERGY STAR requirements.  If correction of the item is not possible, the home cannot earn the ENERGY STAR label.
• The Provider or rater is required to keep a hard copy record of the completed and signed Checklist.  The signature of a builder employee is also required if the builder verified compliance with any item on the Checklist.
• For purposes of this Checklist, an air barrier is defined as any solid material that blocks air flow between a conditioned space and an unconditioned space, including necessary sealing to block excessive air flow at edges and seams. Additional information on proper air sealing of thermal bypasses can be found on the Building America Web site: (www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/building_america) and in the EEBA Builder’s Guides (www.eeba.org). These references include guidance on identifying and sealing air barriers, as well as details on many of the items included in the Checklist.

Call GWS for your builder training and Power Point presentation.
     Oklahoma- 1-888-488-0206
     North Texas- 1-214-876-4417 (Chris Jones)
     Central & South Texas- 1-281-808-4512 (Samantha Pearson)

International Builders Show
Orlando, Florida, February 7-9, 2007

This show is for Single-Family Home Builders, Multifamily Builders/Developers, Dealers & Distributors, Commercial Builders, Remodelers, Architects, Engineers, Realtors, Subcontractors, Land Developers and Construction Industry Professionals.

For more information please visit: buildersshow.com/Home/default.aspx

RESNET 2007 Conference:
“Taking It to the Next Level”
San Diego, California,  February 19-21, 2007

The RESNET Building Performance Conference is the only national conference for the home energy rating industry. It presents the best opportunity for all members of the building performance industry to network and gain first-hand exposure to the latest business practices, technologies, products and policy initiatives. Join your peers for this annual update on important business and technical trends.

For more information please visit: resnet.us/conference